Qatar Shell has signed a third agreement with Gulf Drilling International (GDI) to provide drilling rig services for Shell to explore offshore wells in Qatar’s North Field.
Sawan and al-Othman shake hands after signing the agreement
The new contract covers drilling activities in the Pre-Khuff interval of Block D area, using its jack-up drilling rig Al-Khor.
The contract was signed by Shell’s executive vice-president, Wael Sawan, and GDI’s chief executive officer, Ibrahim J al-Othman.
Sawan said: “I am very pleased that a Qatar-based drilling company is able to provide world-class service to our exploration operation in the country.”
Al-Othman said: “Through hard work and synergy with Shell, we have lifted our performance to a world-class level. Al-Khor’s award last year as the ‘Most Improved Rig’ in Shell’s global rig ranking, is a testament to the progress that has been made. The new contract is a confirmation of the confidence that Shell has in GDI.”
Al-Khor is GDI’s forth offshore and first new built rig, delivered from Keppel Fels shipyard in December 2006. By putting it into operation early 2007, it was GDI’s first cyber rig – at that time the second such unit in the Arabian Gulf, of the popular Model VB design.
“Though the Al-Khor has been drilling appraisal wells since two years, this contract actually realises the strategic depth that was built into the mix of rig fleet design,” al-Othman added.