Qatari offshore drilling company Gulf Drilling International (GDI) has confirmed it has signed a three-year contract with North Oil Company (NOC) to provide drilling services through the drilling rig Dukhan for NOC's extensive development programs in Al Shaheen oil field offshore Qatar.

To remind, Offshore Energy Today reported in late January that GDI signed a deal with North Oil Co. for the charter of the Keppel-built Dukhan jack-up rig for operations in Qatar. According to Bassoe, the rig's dayrate under the contract with NOC is $68,000.

The rig has been employed in Qatar since its delivery in 2014 when it was chartered by Qatar Petroleum.

The drilling company said on Monday that the signing ceremony was attended by GDI's Chief Executive officer William Ceppi and NOC's Chief Executive Officer Jacques Azibert. Also in attendance were Mark Gibson, Chief Operation Officer, and Francis Bourcier Drilling Manager of NOC.

William Ceppi, GDI's Chief Executive Officer, said: “GDI is proud to be selected as North Oil Company's partner in their continued development of the Al-Shaheen offshore oilfield. NOC's selection for the fourth rig, the Dukhan, is a testament to GDI's continued safety focus, operational excellence, and strong management and leadership.”

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Jacques Azibert, CEO of NOC, said: “I am very proud to partner with GDI, particularly as this partnership signifies our ongoing drive to support Qatari businesses. The contracting of the Dukhan drilling rig is a further step in our commitment to develop the Al Shaheen field and deliver operational excellence.”

Al-Shaheen oil field is located in Qatari waters 80 kilometers north of Ras Laffan with facilities consisting of 33 platforms, 300 wells and currently producing 300,000 barrels of oil per day. Al Shaheen is Qatar's largest offshore oil field and one of the largest offshore oil fields in the world.

The operatorship of the Al-Shaheen field was taken over in 2017 from Maersk Oil by North Oil Company (NOC), which is a joint venture established as a partnership between Total (30%) and Qatar Petroleum (70%) to operate the giant oil field.

Delivered in 2014 by Keppel, the KFELS B Class Dukhan jack-up rig is equipped with larger spud cans for reduced bearing pressure which expands its operational coverage, especially in sea beds where soft soil is predominant. It includes a 15,000 PSI choke system for well control and can drill wells through 30,000 ft with a cantilever that can skid out 75 ft from the edge of the hull to drill wells. It also features offline stand building and 7,500 PSI mud pumps.