1979-built jack-up rig wraps up its assignment off UAE

Abu Dhabi-headquartered Ocean Oilfield Drilling, an affiliate of Ocean Oilfield Integrated Solutions, has confirmed the completion of a plug and abandonment (P&A) program, which one of its jack-up rigs carried out at an offshore field in the UAE for Sinochem’s Atlantis (UAQ) Limited.

After the Aras Driller jack-up rig mobilized to the Umm al-Quwain (UAQ) gas field located 20 km off the coast of Umm Al Quwain and about 40 kilometers northeast of Dubai in the UAE, the rig began its operations with Atlantis on July 27, 2023. 

The contract was expected to keep the rig busy for three to four months. Ocean Oilfield disclosed the end of the plug and abandonment program, consisting of three wells on the Atlantis’ Umm Al Quwain offshore platform, on Monday, February 5, 2024.

While the UAQ field remained stranded for many years, production finally commenced in 2008, following a development phase, which entailed an unmanned platform designed to produce up to 92 MMscfd of wet gas, which was then transferred via a 14-inch subsea pipeline to the Khor Khwair Gas Plant of Ras Al Khaimah.

Commenting on the P&A campaign, the rig owner said: “The P&A program completion was performed safely and efficiently. Ocean Oilfield appreciates the hard work, dedication and integrity of our crews who work diligently to provide a safe, efficient operation for our client.

“As such, we appreciate and want to thank the Atlantis Holding Ltd management team for their guidance and efforts in promoting the safety of each individual that worked on this project as well as the opportunity for Ocean Oilfield to provide Atlantis with our services.

“This was truly a project where the significant focus was for the safety of each individual involved in the project. Ocean Oilfield would like to thank everyone involved for their efforts and professionalism in achieving this milestone.”

The 1979-built Aras Driller jack-up rig is of 82-SD-C design and can accommodate 100 people. With a maximum drilling depth of 20,000 ft, the rig, which was constructed by Marathon Letourneau, Vicksburg Mississippi, is capable of operating in water depths of 280 ft.

At the end of December 2023, Ocean Oilfield Integrated Solutions started its new maintenance and upgrade job, which was awarded for two jack-up barges by Gulf Marine Services (GMS). This work is still ongoing.