News Release

In its latest major contract award, JDR Cable Systems will design, manufacture and test three Electro-Hydraulic (EH ) umbilicals with air powered reelers and sheaves for Expro International Group PLC (Expro or Expro Group), to control Expro’s Electro-Hydraulic Landing String Control System for the deepwater Tahiti and Blind Faith projects in the Gulf of Mexico.

The 3 x 8,000 ft (2438m) long umbilicals are required to work in 7,000 ft (2133m) water depth, deployed within the marine riser, working at temperatures of up to 210 ºF (99 ºC) while exposed to well completion fluids. External pressure requirements are 6,000 psi (414 Bar), and maximum umbilical operating pressure is 15,000 psi (1035 Bar). The umbilical is designed using HP/HT high collapse resistant hoses to handle the high temperatures and pressures.

Prior to umbilical manufacture, a sample length of umbilical will undergo API 17E qualification tests including tensile, bend stiffness, crush and fatigue tests, with the latter performed on JDR’s new purpose-built fatigue cycle test rig. The rig is designed to simulate the umbilical’s path from the deployment reeler, over the sheave and into the landing string.

With both umbilical and reeler managed by the same JDR team, special requirements can be identified quickly, implemented and managed to completion of the package. “We’re delighted to work with both the Expro Group and Chevron,” stated Patrick Phelan, Managing Director of JDR’s Oil & Gas Division, “on umbilical systems that must be built to a very demanding specification.”

JDR Cable Systems (www.jdrcables.com) is the global leader in the design and manufacture of custom-engineered, specialty, dynamic or static umbilical and cable systems used in subsea and surface applications for the oil & gas industry. JDR’s technological strengths and innovation in cable design have been applied in other industries, most notably, military defense, scientific endeavors and multiple or continuous sensor applications.