The National Iranian South Oilfields Company has taken an important step in increasing its onshore drilling fleet with the arrival of the first drilling rig secured under new contracts. Ramin Hatami, the CEO of this company, highlighted the importance of securing drilling equipment for the development of oil and gas fields during a visit to the new drilling rig.
Securing Drilling Equipment and Development Goals
Ramin Hatami considered securing drilling equipment as one of the key requirements for the development of oil and gas fields and added: "Given the mandates of the Ministry of Oil to increase oil and gas production within the framework of the seventh development plan of the country, securing the necessary drilling rigs is a priority for the upstream oil industry, pursued with the participation and investment of the private sector."
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The CEO of the National Iranian South Oilfields Company also referred to plans for launching other drilling rigs and added: "According to the provided report, it is expected that two more rigs will enter the operational cycle by the end of this year." Hatami explained the status of the country's onshore drilling fleet, stating that currently, 121 light and heavy drilling rigs are active in the onshore sector, and with the addition of 18 new rigs, the share of the private sector in this fleet will increase.
The Role of the Private Sector in Oil Industry Development
Hatami emphasized that private sector participation is not limited to securing drilling equipment, and activities in the processing and collection of associated gas from oil have also been assigned to this sector. He believes that with the implementation of these projects, we will soon witness an increase in the share and role of the private sector in the development of upstream oil industry activities.
The CEO of the National Iranian South Oilfields Company clarified: "The implementation of these contracts and the utilization of the investment capacity and operational capabilities of the private sector will provide the groundwork for broader participation of this sector in the development of oil fields and achieving the production goals of the oil industry."
The first onshore drilling rig of this company, known as OPC.1 with a capacity of 2,000 horsepower, has been secured and launched under a BOO contract with investment from Oxin Petroleum Engineering and Drilling Services of the Middle East. This rig is operational at well number 62 of the Ab-Timour oil field, and its drilling operations began on September 30, 2026.
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