Expro introduces single-valve shear-and-seal system for subsea well access

(WO) - Expro has introduced a new single-valve shear-and-seal ball valve system designed to simplify subsea well access operations across the full well lifecycle, including completions, intervention, and plug and abandonment (P&A).

The system, known as Solus, is engineered to replace the conventional two-valve configuration typically required for subsea well access with a single shear-and-seal valve capable of operating on wireline and coiled tubing. According to the company, the approach is intended to reduce equipment complexity and operational risk during subsea intervention activities.

The valve system has been tested in accordance with API Std 17G and is compliant with NACE MR0175 requirements. It is designed to provide bi-directional sealing for gas and liquids following shear operations, including applications involving slickline, braided electrical cable and coiled tubing. The system is qualified for high-debris environments, with a solids ingress tolerance of up to 15%.

Expro said the technology can be deployed in both riser-based and open-water subsea configurations and is applicable across exploration, appraisal, production intervention and decommissioning operations. The company has already deployed the system during an in-riser completions project in the Gulf of America and as part of an open-water P&A campaign in the North Sea.

The valve’s modular design allows for isolation and disconnection from the well and is intended to align with the industry’s move toward smaller blowout preventer (BOP) stack configurations. Expro said the reduced footprint supports more flexible subsea system design and logistics planning, particularly for lightweight intervention and P&A applications.

The system has also been incorporated into Expro’s open-water intervention riser system, enabling shear-and-seal capability within a single valve for open-water well access. The fail-close design is intended to provide an independent well barrier during subsea operations.

Expro said the development reflects ongoing industry efforts to improve safety, reduce operational complexity and lower costs in subsea well intervention and abandonment programs, particularly as operators advance late-life field strategies and offshore decommissioning activity increases.