The Minister of Energy and Industry H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada posing for a picture with other officials.
DOHA: Maersk Oil Qatar (MOQ) and Gulf Drilling International (GDI) signed two new contracts in the presence of H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry. One contract is a two-year pact for the GDI jack-up drilling rig (rig ‘B-341’), and another three-year contract for a new GDI offshore accommodation jack-up. The total value of these contracts is more than QR750m.
The signings represent the second and third major agreements between GDI and MOQ in 2013. In February this year, the companies signed a contract for the offshore jack-up drilling rig “Al Jassra”, which is already working in the Al Shaheen field. This makes the total agreements signed between MOQ and GDI in 2013 worth a combined amount of about QR1.56bn.
The agreements were signed by MOQ’s Managing Director Mr. Lewis Affleck, and GDI’s Chief Executive Officer, Ibrahim J. Al-Othman. Also in attendance were: Saad Sherida Al Kaabi, Director of Oil and Gas Ventures of Qatar Petroleum; Jakob Thomasen, Chief Executive Officer of Maersk Oil; and Sheikh Faisal Bin Fahad Al Thani, Deputy Managing Director of MOQ.
Dr Al Sada, who is also the Managing Director of Gulf International Services, acknowledged GDI’s rapid development and voiced appreciation of the high quality of service that it provides.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Jakob Thomasen, Chief Executive Officer of Maersk Oil, said, “In close partnership with Qatar Petroleum, Maersk Oil operates Qatar’s largest offshore oil field, Al Shaheen. Maersk Oil works closely with Qatari businesses to maximise local participation in its activities. Thissigning with GDI is testament to this commitment.”
“Al Shaheen is one of the most complex fields in the world. More than twenty years of developing and operating the field alongside our partners QP, provides Maersk Oil with a unique level of experience and understanding of this challenging reservoir.
“Many more wells will be needed in the future to help successfully unlock the potential of the Al Shaheen field, and we’re therefore very pleased to continue our work with GDI, a local drilling contractor”, he added.
Ibrahim J Al-Othman, GDI’s Chief Executive Officer said: The signing signifies another important milestone in the relationship between GDI and Maersk Oil Qatar. In recent months we have worked tirelessly together to bring the Al Jassra rig safely into operation, whilst simultaneously identifying and maturing two additional, very significant, opportunities for GDI to work with Maersk Oil in the Al Shaheen field.
“This is truly a great achievement, and one that we are very proud of. GDI continues to grow and flourish as an organisation thanks guidance and support of our GDI board of directors and the professionalism of its employees and the high quality technical solutions that we offer to our clients.” The Peninsula
