US Firm Gets Rig Order from Qatar-Listed GDI

Gulf Drilling International (GDI) has ordered two new land rigs from US contractor Lanco Well Services to expand its fleet to twelve. The Victoria, Texas based company will deliver the two rigs, GDI-5 and GDI-6, in the third and fourth quarters of the year, having previously built and delivered GDI-3 in 2008.

The new builds will bring to six the number of land rigs in GDI’s fleet, all of which are operating in Qatar for Qatar Petroleum. The value of the contract was not disclosed. GDI is a Qatar-listed joint venture between state player Qatar Petroleum and Japan Drilling. The driller’s existing fleet includes five offshore jack-ups, one accommodation jack-up and four onshore rigs.