Parker Drilling Co., Tulsa, has completed the modification of its Rig 249, which will begin drilling in giant Tengiz oil field in western Kazakhstan for Tengizchevroil (TCO) in August.
The rig is under a long-term contract to TCO, a limited liability partnership that includes Chevron Corp., ExxonMobil Corp., KazakhOil, and Lukoil.
Rig 249, an E-3000 drilling rig with a depth rating of 30,000 ft, was upgraded and modified at Parker's manufacturing facility, Partech, in New Iberia, La. All major rig components and systems, including the drawworks, mud system, mud pumps and power package, were either replaced or refurbished.
Prior to the upgrade, the rig had been operating in Colombia. Rig 249 is the second Parker-owned rig operating as part of AralParker, a joint venture of Parker and a local Kazakh company that promotes future expansion in the country.
Parker first entered into an agreement with Tengizchevroil in 1993 to provide base management, logistics support services, and contract labor for two rigs owned by TCO. The contract was extended on a long-term basis in 1997, and a Parker rig was added to the services.