The National Iranian Oil Company has handed over a project to the National Iranian Drilling Company for drilling eight exploration wells in unnamed onshore fields, an official at NIDC said.
“The venture has been granted to NIDC following its participation in NIOC’s tender, held by the company’s Exploration Department,” Karamali Naderi was also quoted as saying by NIOC’s official news portal on Saturday.
Naderi added that the department is expected to confirm the process, after which the two sides will finalize an agreement.
He noted that as per plans, two heavy onshore drilling machinery, namely Fath 74 and 89 rigs, will be used to implement the project.
According to Naderi, NIOC had also assigned NIDC with the task of drilling eight other wells, which is being undertaken by Fath 32 and 33.
"NIDC has expressed readiness to participate in another prospective tender on drilling eight wells," he said, stressing that the company has also offered two drilling rigs to carry out the project.
Mohammad Reza Takaidi, NIDC's deputy head, told ILNA in July that in line with efforts to play a more active role in international drilling ventures, NIDC, which is a subsidiary of NIOC, was negotiating with a number of foreign firms in Iraq, Oman and Armenia.
"Talks are underway with state-owned Basra and Missan oil and gas companies in Iraq," he added.
According to the official, NIDC has participated in Agip's tender in Iraq and hopes to win it.
"Securing the company's footprints in oil- and gas-rich states like Iraq, Oman and Qatar tops NIDC's priority list," he said.
Takaidi noted that the company is ready to prepare the ground for training and market expansion.
NIDC has 75 drilling rigs, 68 of which are being used in the joint oilfields, namely South Azadegan, 80 km west of Ahvaz in Khuzestan Province along the Iran-Iraq border, Azar in Ilam Province as well as South Pars, the world's largest gas field shared between Iran and Qatar in the Persian Gulf.
The state-owned company is responsible for drilling rigs operated by the National Iranian South Oil Company, Petroleum Engineering and Development Company, Iranian Offshore Oil Company and Iranian Central Oil Fields Company.
