Acceleration in localization and modernization; completion of 100 wells by the National Drilling Company

According to Energy Press, drilling is the starting point of the value chain in the oil and gas industry, and without drilling operations, no extraction, production, or exploitation of hydrocarbon resources would be possible. This complex and specialized process provides access to oil and gas reservoirs deep in the earth and, as a link connecting geology with production, plays a fundamental role in the country’s energy security. The importance of drilling does not lie only in extracting resources, but also in the speed, accuracy, safety, and costs of drilling, which directly affect the economics of upstream projects and the rate of return on investment.
In addition, drilling operations, as a knowledge-based industry, are the intersection of modern engineering technologies, advanced equipment, and specialized human resources. Developing domestic capacities in this area, especially in the field of localization of rigs, strategic components and technical services such as cementing, drilling mud, mapping and downhole tests, not only reduces dependence on foreign countries, but also contributes significantly to job creation, knowledge transfer and increasing the resilience of the country’s oil industry against sanctions. For this reason, strengthening drilling infrastructure has always been one of the major priorities in Iran’s energy policies.
The National Iranian Drilling Company, as the upstream operational arm of the oil industry, began its activities in January 1979 with 6 drilling rigs and now, with dozens of onshore and offshore drilling rigs and providing more than 25 types of technical services, plays a key role in drilling, repairing and completing oil and gas wells across the country. In recent years, by overcoming financial, technical and sanctions bottlenecks, the company has not only been able to restore a large part of its capacity, but also has taken great steps towards transformation and self-sufficiency by implementing modernization projects, upgrading technology, developing knowledge-based cooperation and localizing equipment.
Mehran Makoundi, CEO of the National Iranian Drilling Company, spoke to Shana reporter about last year’s performance, future plans, inter-organizational cooperation, localizing equipment and the company’s role in developing the country’s oil and gas fields. What you read below is the details of this conversation.
What factors led the National Iranian Drilling Company to drill, repair and complete 100 oil and gas wells in 1403? What were the most important factors influencing this success and how do you evaluate this performance compared to previous years?
In 1403, the National Iranian Drilling Company, using 62 active drilling rigs and returning two others to operation, succeeded in drilling, repairing, and completing 100 oil and gas wells. Of these, 24 were development and explanatory wells and 76 were repair and completion operations. This performance was the result of careful planning, interdepartmental coordination, increased operational efficiency, and strengthening integrated technical services.
Compared to previous years, this success is considered a significant leap, especially given the restrictive economic and sanctions conditions. The reactivation of idle rigs, especially the 48-Fath drilling rig in Kharg and the 73-Fath drilling rig, which is domestically manufactured, played an effective role in this progress. Increasing productivity, reducing unproductive times, and relying on domestic capacity were the main pillars of this achievement.
What is the main purpose of the purchase of 15 onshore drilling rigs by the National Iranian Drilling Company, and what benefits does this plan bring to the country’s oil industry?
The National Iranian Drilling Company, which was removed from the list of Article 44 transfers with the approval of the Supreme National Security Council and was given the opportunity to reinvest in fleet modernization, has developed a plan to purchase 15 onshore drilling rigs with different powers of 1000, 1500, 2000 and 3000 horsepower worth approximately $800 million with the support of the Ministry of Oil and the National Iranian Oil Company. These rigs are designed specifically for descriptive and exploration purposes and will be equipped with the latest technologies.
In addition, specialized technical service equipment such as high-pressure pumps, stratigraphy, charting, mobile core pipe and well testing equipment are also on the purchase list. The convergence of this equipment with the current fleet is being carried out through detailed planning in the form of a joint supervisory working group with the integrated planning management of the National Iranian Oil Company and coordination with the Ministry of Oil.
What are the challenges in the path of localizing the manufacture of equipment?
One of the strategic priorities of the National Iranian Drilling Company in recent years has been the localization of strategic equipment and the promotion of the share of domestic manufacturing in drilling projects. In this regard, cooperation with companies such as Fajr Shiraz Complex, which has a history of manufacturing key components of drilling rigs, has been developed. The project to build the third drilling rig in the country, with a saving of $7 million, is an example of these measures that have been achieved by utilizing domestic engineering capabilities and resource management.
Priorities are determined based on the operational needs of the fields, the type of projects (development, exploration, repair), and the localization capacity available in the country. However, challenges such as the lack of some technical infrastructure, the need for technology transfer, and the timely supply of quality parts are the main obstacles to localization. The company’s vision remains to strengthen domestic manufacturing and reduce dependence.