Saudi Aramco debuts first drilling rig built by its own engineers
Oil company Saudi Aramco has commissioned its first drilling rig to be developed by its own engineers, with the new facility designed to localise drilling services between its two new joint ventures with Rowan Companies and Nabors Industries. Though Saudi Aramco has a number of onshore and offshore rigs, this will be its first to be built from scratch. The 3,000 horsepower rig will be 162ft tall and be able to drill wells as deep as 30,000ft.

Saudi Aramco has commissioned Ain Dar, its first drilling rig developed by its engineers.

The rig has a height of 162ft and already begun drilling the first well, which will enable the operators and engineers to assess its capability.

The company expects that the new rig will facilitate the localisation of drilling services through its two new joint ventures (JVs) with Nabors Industries and Rowan Companies.

Drilling and workover executive director AbdulHameed A. Al Rushai said: “Among all drilling contractors, I am fully confident that Saudi Aramco’s rigs will be best in class in performing their operations safely and efficiently.”



The rig is the latest addition to Saudi Aramco’s fleet of onshore and offshore rigs.

Southern Area Oil Drilling Department manager Fahad Al-Mulaik said: “This is the first rig built from scratch for Saudi Aramco.

“By tailoring the rig design to fit our needs, we can make sure that we get the drilling services we need while setting an example for the highest standards of safety, efficiency, and environmental protection.”

"Among all drilling contractors, I am fully confident that Saudi Aramco’s rigs will be best in class in performing their operations safely and efficiently."

Drilling maintenance superintendent for the rig Talal Al-Zahrani said that the addition of 3,000 horsepower rig will be a critical contribution for the firm to the new onshore drilling joint venture with Nabors.

The rig can drill wells up to 30,000ft and comes with mud-control systems, as well as a cementing tank enables the drilling crew to control pressure during drilling.

It also has a blowout preventer system, which is certified up to 15,000 pounds per square inch (psi).

This rig is equipped with ‘iron roughneck’ and a ‘stand transfer vehicle’ that enables it to carry out risky tasks with negligible danger to staff.

Image: Ain Dar rig. Photo: courtesy of Saudi Aramco.