Qatar Petroleum has let contracts for eight offshore jack up drilling rigs expected to be mobilized and ready for its North Field expansion project starting in January 2020.
Contracts for six of the eight rigs were let to Gulf Drilling International. Contracts for the remaining two rigs were let to Northern Offshore Drilling Operations Ltd., operating out of the US. The scope includes the drilling and completion of 80 new wells from eight wellhead platform locations. The contracts are awarded for terms of 2-4 years, with exercisable options to extend the drilling program durations if required.
The drilling program planned for the rigs is a major component of the expansion project to increase Qatar’s LNG production capacity to 110 million tonnes/year by 2024 from the current 77 million tpy.
The contracts follow the recent contract let for the fabrication and installation of eight North field expansion offshore jackets to McDermott Middle East (OGJ Online, Apr. 12, 2019). It also follows the contract let for early site works for the onshore project to the joint venture of Consolidated Contractors Co. and Teyseer Trading & Contracting Co. (OGJ Online, Apr. 3, 2019).
