CDC, BP SIGN CONTRACT ON USE OF SDR

Caspian Drilling Company (CDC) Joint Company (JV) and BP, a British oil giant, signed a contact on the use of Istiglal drilling Rig for exploration drilling in the Azerbaijani section of the Caspian Sea. The Satte Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), a co-founder of the JV, told Trend that the contract reflects a schedule of use of the rig. The drilling work will start on 1 August.

In August Istiglal will start drilling on the Shah-Daniz field. The SOCAR said that CDC was obliged to refuse from drilling an exploration well on the Turkmen section of the Caspian Sea. Earlier the company concluded a contract with Dutch company Maersk Oil on drilling an exploration well on Karadashlik with Istiglal.

Early this year CDC and Maersk Oil agreed upon drilling with Istiglal a well on Karadashlik area, which includes 11-12 offshore bloc. In compliance with the agreement, Istiglal should be used for well drilling in Turkmenistan within 90 days. The project depth of the well is some 5000m.

Experts do not exclude that Turkmenistan might use the services of Heydar Aliyev semi-submersible drilling rig (SDR), which is under disposal of Maersk Contractors.