Al-Othman (right) after inking the pact with Verret. With the addition of two more new rigs, GDI’s land rig fleet will comprise a total of eight.

Gulf Drilling International (GDI) has placed a QR193mn order with the US-based Superior Derrick Services (SDS) for the construction of two new land rigs that will work for Qatar Petroleum (QP) under newly awarded contracts.

“The addition of these two new rigs will positively impact GDI’s profitability and long term sustainability,” said its CEO Ibrahim J al-Othman, after inking pact with the owner and managing partner of SDS Rodney Verret.

The 1,500HP rig that is being ordered has been named as GDI-7 and the 3,000HP rig as GDI-8. These rigs will take 10 and 12 months, respectively, to be delivered at SDS’ factory and are scheduled to be placed into service by GDI, following their mobilisation from the US, in the third and fourth quarters of 2015, respectively.

With the addition of two more new rigs, GDI’s land rig fleet will comprise a total of eight, including five drilling rigs (one 3,000HP rig, one 2,000HP rig and three 1,500HP rigs) and three work-over rigs (all 1,000HP).

All eight rigs are under long-term contracts to QP for drilling operations being conducted the onshore Dukhan field.

At 3000HP, GDI-8 will be the largest land rig in GDI’s fleet, capable of drilling extended reach wells and to greater depths.

GDI, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gulf International Services, has already entered into contract collectively worth QR1.1bn with QP for the deployment of GDI-7 and GDI-8.

“GDI’s land operations had improved considerably in recent years as a result of the business strategy to invest in this important segment of the business. We are looking forward with great anticipation to the day when each of these new assets is placed into operation in a safe and efficient manner,” al-Othman said.

SDS, which has been in the business for over 40 years and has already delivered more than 100 rigs, is one of the few private companies capable of delivering complete onshore drilling systems from design concept to the well site.

“This is our first contract in Qatar and we look forward to building a long-term relationship with GDI to be a viable option to provide further assets to their growing fleet,” Verret said. In recent years, GDI has made several investments to expand and upgrade its land operations in and around Dukhan. In addition to its drilling rigs, GDI has a full complement of ancillary equipment that are used for transportation, rig moves, well site preparation, catering, communication and the drilling of water wells. GDI also has offices, accommodations, warehouses and work shop facilities that have recently been renovated and expanded to support this growing segment of its operations, including the ancillary equipment that will accompany the two rigs being ordered.