UK oilfield services firm Expro has been awarded a £16million contract to help decommission an offshore field for Malaysian operator Petronas.

Expro has been subcontracted by Pacific Drilling to provide an Intervention Riser System (IRS) for plugging and abandonment (P&A) of the Chinguetti Field Phase Two off the coast of Mauritania.

The firm said the contracted work is expected to last 360 days which also includes supply of a range of other equipment and services.

IRS ensures a reliable means of well control during the P&A process and Expro will be supported by Texas-based Worldwide Oilfield Machine in carrying out the contract.

The work will be executed from Expro’s office in Kuala Lumpur and locally onshore in Mauritania.

Expro is headquartered in the UK and employs around 600 people in Aberdeen.

The firm recently expanded its subsea intervention facilities for operations on oil and gas wells.

Subsea vice president Colin Mackenzie said: “This contract allows Expro to continue to expand our service offering to clients, and provide well access through our existing landing string technology, or now through-riser or riserless systems.

“We welcome the opportunity to support Pacific Drilling by providing our technology and services, which will enhance the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the field P&A process from their high specification drillship.”