Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), Oman’s leading hydrocarbon exploration and production company, has launched the sultanate’s first locally manufactured well drilling rig.
Oman’s first locally made drilling rig is the first of four highly automated rigs designed and constructed by KCA Deutag’s Kenera business unit, which will fulfil a ten-year drilling operations contract secured by PDO in January 2022.
The rig was unveiled at a ceremony held under the auspices of HE Mohsin bin Hamed al Hadhrami, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, at the KCA Deutag facility in Nizwa, where the rigs are being constructed at Kenera’s International Drilling Technology Co (IDTEC) facility, which is KCA Deutag’s in-country manufacturing and servicing company.
“This remarkable drilling rig, the first of four to be produced by KCA Deutag for PDO, underpins our unwavering commitment to enhancing in-country value and boosting Oman’s self-sufficiency in the energy sector,” PDO stated officially.
Kenera designed and built the highly automated, fast-moving 1250 horsepower rigs. With an emphasis on digitalization, the rigs leverage the latest innovations to provide PDO with safe, effective, and sustainable drilling operations. Automation of key equipment is enabled via the cyber drilling chair (synapse), the rig’s central operating system, and custom software that improves remote operations capability and raises performance and safety.
As a partner to PDO since 1964, the KCA Deutag Group has a long history in Oman and has demonstrated its commitment to the growth of the economy in Oman with an investment of approximately $100mn for Kenera to build the new rigs in-country.
The high in-country value (ICV) of the project has seen the company spend approximately 40 percent of its investment in subcontracting significant work, including construction and commissioning, to small and medium-sized Omani businesses, ensuring the expansion of the local economy.
Eng. Abul-Amir al Ajmi Director External affairs & Value creation, PDO
“PDO remains committed to supporting and leading the ICV initiative. We are dedicated to our role in contributing to the growth and prosperity of Oman. Indeed, we cannot emphasize enough the importance of ICV, particularly for our nation’s economy. The significance of ICV goes beyond corporate responsibility, it is the bedrock upon which our national economic aspirations are built. We are pleased with our collaboration with KCA Deutag and look forward to continuing this partnership that will contribute towards fulfilling our ICV and sustainability targets.”
Mr. Simon Drew, president of land drilling at KCA Deutag, said that “We are pleased to have welcomed PDO and ministry officials to our local facility to showcase the first of four technologically advanced rigs being constructed by Kenera in Oman. We take immense pride in delivering bespoke customer-centric solutions, and this project, with its strong emphasis on digitalization and automation, demonstrates the capability we have in-country and across the group. As we continue to embrace cutting-edge technologies, these new rigs will deliver lower emissions and contribute to sustainability and energy optimization in Oman.”
Mr. Drew added that “We believe this project holds the highest ICV of any rig construction project in the history of Oman. Our commitment to providing in-country value in Oman is demonstrated by our investment in the economy and people, with Omani nationals representing 92 percent of our local workforce. This also extends to establishing the next generation of talent through the launch of a summer internship program in partnership with Omani universities for 16 undergraduates.”
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