Affleck and al-Othman shake hands after signing the agreement yesterday.
Maersk Oil Qatar and Gulf Drilling International (GDI) yesterday signed a QR770mn, four-year agreement under which the former will contract Al Jassra, GDI’s new jack-up drilling rig, for drilling and well work-over activity in the Al Shaheen field, Qatar’s largest offshore oil field.
The agreement was signed by Maersk Oil Qatar’s managing director Lewis Affleck, and GDI’s chief executive officer, Ibrahim J al-Othman.
“Al Jassra will be one of the drilling rigs used to deliver Maersk Oil’s latest field development plan, FDP 2012, which was agreed in November 2012 and calls for the drilling of 51 new wells, a $1.5bn commitment, in Al Shaheen oil field,” Affleck said.
Maersk Oil Qatar has produced more than 1bn barrels to date from Shaheen oil field, where the daily output is 300,000 barrels.
“By working closely with our partner Qatar Petroleum, Maersk Oil has already drilled in excess of 300 wells, and we expect to drill many more in the years ahead to optimise recovery from this giant offshore oil field.
“We are very pleased that a Qatari based drilling company is able to provide the world-class drilling support that we currently require – and we very much look forward to working with GDI.
“The rig, currently under final commissioning at PPL Shipyard in Singapore, will be ready in April this year and is expected in Qatar by June,” Affleck added.
Al-Othman described the agreement as an important milestone for GDI and recalled both companies have worked tirelessly to ensure that a credible, economic and sustainable drilling rig solution is delivered.
“Maersk have been instrumental in providing valuable input into the development of the specifications, design preferences and features of this new rig.
“In the process, we have cultivated an excellent working relationship that is focused on mutually beneficial results,” he said.
Al Jassra, a Pacific Class 400 jack-up drilling rig, will come with a 75’ cantilever outreach and provide accommodation for 150 persons. It will provide the capacity and ability to drill the extended reach wells that are needed to access the long thin reservoirs of Al Shaheen field.
