The Minister of Energy and Industry H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada, Chairman of GDI Saad Sherida Al Kaabi, CEO of GDI Ibrahim Jassim Al Othman and other board members of GDI at the inaugural event in Singapore yesterday.
By Satish Kanady
SINGAPORE: The Minister of Energy and Industry H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada inaugurated one of the most technologically advanced offshore drilling rigs to ever operate in Qatar, here yesterday.
Designed and built for Qatar’s Gulf Drilling International (GDI) by PPL Shipyard in Singapore, the BMC375 Pacific Class rig is a proven series that has been well accepted by the industry.
This is the largest-ever offshore rig developed by the PPL and the delivery was made in a record 15 months’ time.
The inaugural ceremony held at the shipyard was attended by senior executives from GDI and top Singaporean officials.
Named as “Al Jassra”, the state-of-the-art offshore drilling rig is scheduled to set out from the western coast of Singapore to Doha by end of this month. The gigantic rig, with the support of a Heavy Lift Carrier (HLC), is expected to arrive in Doha during the first week of May 2013.
“Al Jassra” will begin its operations in the Al Shaheen offshore field by mid-2013 according to a contract between GDI and Maersk Qatar Oil.
Dr Al Sada said: “GDI has taken major steps to keep pace with the rising demand for more oil and gas wells, making it the leading provider of drilling services in Qatar. We expect GDI’s expansion plan to contribute significantly to the increased revenues of GIS, whose stock is traded on the Qatar Exchange, thereby adding more value to its shareholders.”
The Minister thanked GDI’s efforts to help realise its vision to expand and capitalise on Qatar’s vigorous economic growth.
The Chairman of GDI Saad Sherida Al Kaabi noted: “This achievement exemplifies the ambitious expansion plan of GDI. Receiving this new drilling rig is a major step forward in that plan. Al Jassra is an extremely valuable addition to our fleet of offshore rigs.”
GDI’s CEO Ibrahim Jassim Al Othman commented: “The inauguration of Al Jassra drilling rig allows us to show our appreciation for this great achievement, before we embark on our next challenge, which is to commence drilling operations in Qatar.”
He expressed his gratitude to the staff of GDI and PPL Shipyard who made this feat possible.
The rig will come with accommodation for 150 persons, have a 75 feet cantilever outreach and be able to operate in water depths of up to 400 feet and drilling to depths of 30,000 feet. On delivery, this jack-up will be the most technologically advanced drilling rig operating in Qatar.
This is the third new offshore rig being built for GDI in the last six years. The rig that comes with accommodation for 150 persons, have a 75-foot cantilever outreach. It is equipped with a heli-deck and aviation fuelling facility.
It has been constructed to provide exceptional drilling services for Maersk Qatar Oil over the next four years, with options to extend for up to 2 more years.
Al Jassra is the first of three new offshore rigs being built for GDI. Receiving this new rig supports the Company’s growth plan, which aims at add seven new rigs to its fleet (comprising three offshore drilling rigs, two onshore drilling rigs and two accommodation jack-up barges) during 2014.
Once completed, this expansion plan will result in GDI owning 5 hi-spec, premium offshore rigs in its fleet, not only making it a leading provider of drilling rig services, but also a leading provider of accommodation barge and lift boat services.
The Peninsula
