Azernews.Az

By Aynur Karimova

SOCAR-AQS LLC, an integrated drilling and well services management company in Azerbaijan, has signed an agreement with Archer Assets UK Limited and Nobel Oil Services to establish Oguz Drilling joint venture.

The Oguz Drilling joint venture, a new platform drilling company in Azerbaijan, will provide world-class platform drilling services, including drilling facilities, design, modification and drilling support services.

It plans to work with local authorities and institutions to ensure implementation of world-class best practices in safety, efficiency and reliability within platform drilling services, and to train and develop Azerbaijani national employees to the highest standards of international drilling industry.

"SOCAR-AQS, a successful integrated drilling services company in Azerbaijan, is pleased to be a founding partner of Oguz Drilling, a new drilling company for Azerbaijan with truly international mindset and standards," said Ramin Isayev, General Director of SOCAR-AQS. “Oguz Drilling will apply the most advanced drilling management systems, the best talent and expertise, and the partners’ well-established logistical and training and development infrastructure to support clients’ success in platform drilling projects."

In his remarks John Lechner, President North Sea and EVP Archer, said the JV represents an ideal combination of Archer’s global presence and over 40 years of platform drilling experience, with SOCAR-AQS and Nobel Oil Services extensive drilling industry experience in Azerbaijan.

"We look forward, together with our partners, to demonstrate our expertise and commitment to safety in the Azerbaijani and Caspian Sea drilling market,” he noted.

Commenting on the establishment of the new drilling company, Mike Wring, CEO of Nobel Oil Services, Ltd., said his company is delighted to join forces with SOCAR-AQS and Archer to position Oguz Drilling as a leading platform drilling service provider in the Caspian Sea and the wider international market.

"The joint venture will build on Azerbaijan’s proud 167-year history in the drilling industry and Archer’s international experience to provide world-class drilling services to its clients," he noted.

Oguz Drilling is registered in Azerbaijan and based in Baku.

SOCAR-AQS LLC was established in 2007 between Azerbaijan's state energy company SOCAR and Absheron Drilling Company. The main scope of activities of the company is provision of work and services related with drilling of oil and gas wells.

Currently, SOCAR-AQS implements integrated drilling projects in Shallow Water Gunashli, Umid, West Absheron and Bulla Deniz fields.

The company has been a contractor member of IADC since 2009. SOCAR-AQS has been assessed and certified as meeting the requirements of ISO 9001:2008, ISO 14001:2004 and OHSAS 18001:2007 international standards for Provision of Integrated Offshore Oil & Gas Drilling and Well Services; Casing Running Services and BOP and Wellhead Equipment Repairing and Testing Services.

Archer is a global oilfield service company with more than 40 years’ experience, over 8,000 employees, and operations in more than 100 locations worldwide. From drilling services, production optimization, well integrity and intervention, to decommissioning, Archer is focused on safely delivering the highest quality services and products to the drilling and well service markets.

Nobel Oil Services, Ltd is a leading provider of drilling, engineering and project management, maintenance, procurement and enhanced oil recovery services in Azerbaijan and regionally. The company’s trading group is active internationally in sales and trading of crude oil, natural gas and refined products.

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Aynur Karimova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Aynur_Karimova

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