SOCAR-AQS, Archer and Nobel Oil Services Join Forces in New Drilling Joint Venture in Azerbaijan

Baku, Azerbaijan, 06/02/2015 

SOCAR-AQS announces today that it has signed a joint venture (JV) agreement with Archer Assets UK Limited (Archer) and Nobel Oil Services to establish Oğuz Drilling, a new platform drilling company in Azerbaijan.

With support from SOCAR-AQS, Archer and Nobel Oil Services, the Oğuz Drilling joint venture will provide world-class platform drilling services, including drilling facilities design, modification and drilling support services. Oğuz Drilling will train and develop Azerbaijani national employees to the highest standards of international drilling industry. The JV company 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.

"SOCAR-AQS, a successful integrated drilling services company in Azerbaijan, is pleased to be a founding partner of Oğuz Drilling, a new drilling company for Azerbaijan with truly international mindset and standards," said Ramin Isayev, General Director of SOCAR-AQS. “Oğuz 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."

“The Oğuz Drilling joint venture represents an ideal combination of Archer’s global presence and over 40 years of platform drilling experience, with SOQAR-AQS and Nobel Oil Services extensive drilling industry experience in Azerbaijan, said John Lechner, President North Sea and EVP Archer. We look forward, together with our partners, to demonstrate our expertise and commitment to safety in the Azerbaijani and Caspian Sea drilling market.”

“Nobel Oil Services is delighted to join forces with SOCAR-AQS and Archer to position Oğuz 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, commented Mike Wring, CEO of Nobel Oil Services, Ltd.
The new drilling Joint Venture, Oğuz Drilling will be registered in Azerbaijan and located in Baku.
 
Note for editors:

1. SOCAR-AQS LLC is an integrated drilling and well services management joint venture company between the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic and Absheron Drilling Company and was established in 2007. Main scope of activities of the company is provision of work and services related with drilling of oil and gas wells, including: well design and planning; drilling of oil and gas wells; drilling of directionally deviated wells; drilling of horizontal wells; well completion; well workover; sidetracking and drilling of multilateral wells.

Currently, SOCAR-AQS implements integrated drilling projects in Shallow Water Gunashli Field, in Umid field (HPNT gas-condensate field), in West Absheron field and Bulla Deniz field (HPNT gas-condensate field). The company is 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. SOCAR-AQS is currently implementing API Spec Q2 standards.

2. 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.

3. 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.