New jobs: in Kazakhstan, Congo-Brazaville and Algeria
Saipem scoops up $600m rig deals
Italy’s Saipem has landed six new contracts for onshore drilling rigs, worth about $600 million in total.
The jobs cover the charter of six onshore rigs in Kazakhstan, Congo-Brazzaville and Algeria.
In Kazakhstan, Saipem will provide fellow Italian player Agip with two units for work on the Kashagan field. The units, to be installed on artificial islands, have been designed to operate in harsh environments, said Saipem in a statement.
Drilling work is due to begin between the fourth quarter of next year and the first quarter of 2011, and will last for about five and a half years per drilling unit.
In Congo-Brazzaville, Saipem will provide Eni with two rigs for a period of two years, starting from the third quarter of this year.
The units, previously employed in Saudi Arabia, will work on the M’Boundi field.
In Algeria, Saipem will supply the joint venture between First Calgary Petroleum and Sonatrach with two rigs for work on Block 405B.
Block 405B lies in the Berkine basin about 350 kilometres south-east of Hassi Messaoud. Both contracts are for three years starting from the middle of this year.