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Energy

70% of Drilling Rigs Manufactured Domestically

About 70% of drilling rigs in Iran are produced domestically, the National Iranian Oil Company's deputy director for exploration affairs said. 

“This is while until 30 years ago, 90% of the country's drilling rigs were imported,” Bahman Soleimani was also quoted as saying by the Oil Ministry’s news agency Shana.

“Efforts are being made to manufacture all drilling rigs inside the country with the help of knowledge-based companies,” he added.

Masoud Afshar, deputy director of the National Iranian Drilling Company, said NIDC has drilled 17 oil and gas wells in the first two months of the current Iranian year (March 21-May 21).

“The wells included development and exploratory wells. During this period, close to 17,000 meters were drilled. Currently, 16 drilling rigs are operating in oil-rich regions,” he said.

Handling nearly 70% of onshore drilling, NIDC has 75 drilling rigs, 68 of which are used in joint oilfields, namely Azar and South Pars. It is the main offshore and onshore contractor and provides 90% of drilling services to domestic companies.

The company plays a key role in drilling exploratory and development wells in Azadegan Oilfield in Khuzestan Province near the Iraqi border and in South Pars, the world's largest gas field Iran shares with Qatar in the Persian Gulf.

The firm has allocated $23 million to upgrade drilling devices and equipment, including fluid pumps, chart recorders and generators.

NIDC draws on the capacity and potential of domestic firms in indigenizing parts and equipment for the key oil and gas sector.

The firm has indigenized the knowhow for manufacturing over 6,000 drilling equipment, in collaboration with domestic manufacturers and engineers, in the past few years.

Indigenized equipment include blowout preventers, traction motors, drilling fluid recycling systems, mission centrifugal pumps, top drives and drilling rig pressure systems.

Besides drilling, it provides 30% of technical services to the oil industry, namely well logging, cementing and acidizing, drill stem test, well testing, training, development and general services.

 

 

Self-Reliance in Repairing Rigs

Iran is self-reliant in repairing offshore drilling rigs. In the past, platforms were sent to other countries for repairs, but now it is done inside the country with the help of Iranian engineers.

Domestic maintenance of the equipment has helped save about $6 million for each drilling rig.

There are tens of drilling rigs in the oil and gas fields off the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman run by NIOC.

Iranian companies have built and installed almost all offshore platforms of the South Pars Gas Field south of Iran.

NIDC, a subsidiary of NIOC, collaborates with 230 local firms to indigenize drilling equipment.

According to NIDC, drawing on domestic firms’ expertise and using indigenous goods and services are among the company’s high priorities for promoting knowledge-based firms.

Collaborations with local firms have helped NIDC indigenize more than 20,000 pieces and parts over the last four decades.

The global oilfield equipment market is forecast to reach $144.4 billion by 2027, according to a report by Reports and Data. 

Demand for oilfield equipment has been relatively high over the past decade because of increasing oil and gas extraction and oilfield activities globally. 

Rising gas consumption is a significant factor driving demand for shale gas. Also, technological advancement in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing have enabled the economic viability of shale gas production and accessibility to better and deeper shale gas deposits.