Expro Secures Major Three-Year Contract With Woodside Energy for Mexico’s First Deepwater Oil Project
Expro, a leading provider of energy services, has announced the award of a significant three-year contract by Woodside Petróleo Operaciones de México, S. de R.L. de C.V. (commonly known as Woodside Energy). This contract marks a major step in advancing the Trion deepwater oil and gas development, situated offshore Mexico in the Gulf of Mexico. The deal not only reflects the strategic partnership between Expro and Woodside but also marks a turning point in Mexico’s energy industry as the country moves forward with its first deepwater oil production facility.
A Historic Milestone for Mexico’s Energy Landscape
The Trion development is located in the Perdido Fold Belt, roughly 180 kilometers off Mexico’s northeastern coastline. The project lies at a water depth of approximately 2,500 meters, making it one of the most technically demanding offshore developments in the region. As the first deepwater oil production initiative in Mexico, Trion symbolizes the nation’s intent to diversify and expand its hydrocarbon production capabilities.
Trion is being developed as a joint venture between Woodside Energy and Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX), Mexico’s state-owned petroleum company. This collaborative model brings together Woodside’s international expertise in deepwater development and PEMEX’s deep-rooted presence in Mexico’s oil sector. According to Woodside’s development roadmap, first oil from Trion is expected by 2028.
This landmark project opens new frontiers for energy development in Mexico and represents a broader shift towards harnessing underexplored deepwater reserves, helping the country meet future energy demands while attracting global investment and advanced technology providers like Expro.
Expro’s Role in the Trion Development
Under the scope of the new contract, Expro will deliver a comprehensive suite of tubular running services (TRS) and cementing support solutions, which are crucial for establishing and maintaining well integrity throughout the drilling and completion processes. These services form part of the well construction phase—a critical component of any offshore oil project—ensuring that subsurface equipment is properly installed, sealed, and structurally sound before hydrocarbon production begins.
Expro’s service offering for the Trion project includes:
- TRS casing and completion support
- Drilling support services
- Provision of casing accessories
- Supply of cement heads
- Deployment of its proprietary Skyhook® system, a highly regarded technology in deepwater well construction
By utilizing this integrated service portfolio, Expro aims to provide a seamless well construction solution from top drive to target depth, increasing the efficiency and reliability of offshore operations.
The Skyhook® system, in particular, represents a technological advantage for deepwater projects. Known for enhancing lifting and handling safety, it ensures accurate alignment and stability during the casing process, reducing the risk of mechanical failure or downtime—two major cost drivers in offshore operations.
Strengthening a Long-Standing Partnership
The collaboration between Expro and Woodside Energy is not new. The two companies have built a strong and enduring relationship, especially during the exploration phase of Trion, when Expro supported well construction activities through its legacy TRS services, including Frank’s TRS and VERSAFLO™ systems. These technologies provided critical assistance in the preliminary drilling phases, laying a solid foundation for the full development of Trion.
This latest contract award is seen as a natural extension of that partnership and signifies a renewed confidence in Expro’s capabilities—both technical and operational—within deepwater environments. The continued collaboration is expected to yield mutual benefits, not only in terms of execution excellence but also in terms of regional capacity-building and knowledge transfer.
Economic and Regional Impact
Woodside Energy will coordinate the Trion project’s logistical and operational support from its shore base and office in Tampico, a coastal city in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. In parallel, Expro is establishing a new regional hub in the same area, further anchoring its presence in Mexico.
This strategic move is expected to generate meaningful employment opportunities for the local workforce and contribute to economic development in the Tampico region. By establishing local infrastructure and deploying specialized personnel, Expro is not only supporting the technical execution of the project but also investing in the long-term sustainability of its operations in the country.
The creation of this hub signals Expro’s intent to play a long-term role in Mexico’s offshore oil and gas sector, beyond the immediate needs of the Trion project. The facility will serve as a base of operations for future projects and service support, enabling faster response times and reducing logistical costs for offshore developments in the Gulf of Mexico.
Driving Performance and Operational Excellence
One of the key goals of Expro’s involvement in the Trion project is to deliver services that optimize well performance and reduce total cost of ownership. In offshore and deepwater environments, where project costs can escalate quickly due to delays or inefficiencies, having a trusted service partner is critical to maintaining schedules and budgets.
Expro’s integrated approach to well construction is designed to:
- Enhance operational reliability
- Reduce non-productive time (NPT)
- Improve overall project economics
- Increase health, safety, and environmental (HSE) compliance
By combining advanced technology with experienced field teams and a commitment to safety, Expro aims to ensure that the Trion development proceeds according to plan, achieving both technical excellence and cost-efficiency.
Leadership Insights
Commenting on the contract award, Jeremy Angelle, Vice President of Well Construction at Expro, emphasized the significance of the Trion project and Expro’s role in it:
“With our extensive track record and a reputation as a trusted provider of TRS solutions, we are proud to play a key role in this world-class development. This contract win reflects not only the strength of our technical capabilities and commercial offering but also our legacy of supporting Trion exploration wells through Frank’s TRS and VERSAFLO™ systems.”
“This project represents an exciting opportunity to showcase our innovative technologies on a historic deepwater development, and we look forward to building a strong, long-term partnership with Woodside in Mexico.”
Angelle’s comments reflect the company’s broader strategic focus on innovation, collaboration, and sustainable value delivery across international markets.
