Iranian experts and engineers have gained the knowhow of producing a special kind of drill bits used in the oil industry, said the director of Mechanical Engineering Research Group at the Production Technology Research Center of the Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research.
“Specialists at the center have succeeded in indigenizing polycrystalline diamond compact [PDC] drill bits that are among the oil industry’s strategic products,” Hassan Mohammadi Majdi was also quoted as saying by the Oil Ministry’s news agency Shana.
He added that the contract for the mass production of the drill bits has been signed and they will be manufactured next year.
PDC drill bits, which are made with synthetic diamond cutters in either steel or matrix body material, have revolutionized the drilling industry with a wide range of applications and high rate of penetration potential.
The country has been importing the bits but the sanctions imposed by the US have hampered their supply, so the indigenization of the item will help reduce dependence on foreign countries in this regard, the official said.
According to the National Iranian Oil Company, about 70% of drilling rigs in Iran are produced domestically and efforts are being made to manufacture all of them with the help of knowledge-based companies.
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 20,000 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.
Iran is also 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.
Tens of drilling rigs are operating in the oil and gas fields off the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman.
Iranian companies have built and installed almost all offshore platforms of the South Pars Gas Field in southern Iran.
NIDC, a subsidiary of NIOC, collaborates with 230 local firms to indigenize drilling equipment.
