Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 25
By Fatih Karimov – Trend:
Italy’s oil giant, Eni has invited the National Iranian Drilling Company (NIDC) to participate in its international tenders in Iraq, said Sepehr Sepehri, the NIDC’s managing director.
Eni has invited the NIDC to take part in three drilling tenders that the Italian company plans to hold in Iraq, Sepeheri said, the official website of the NIDC reported.
The tenders includes drilling of 12, 15 and six oil wells, he said, adding that NIDC already has cooperation experience with Eni in development project of Darkhovin oil field in southern Iran.
The state-controlled Eni, which entered Iran in the 1950s, was involved in the development of the Darkhovin field and the offshore South Pars gas field before the US-led sanctions.
Sepehri said that besides presence in Eni’s tenders, the NIDC is negotiating with Iraq’s national drilling company to carry out drilling operations in the country’s southern areas of Basra.
He further said that the Basra region has a capacity to produce 3.5 million barrels of oil per day.
“We can participate in Iraq’s drilling projects in oil and gas sector, he said, adding that enjoying good neighbouring ties, the two country's access to Arvand Free Zone, and low costs of the NIDC compared to the European rivals as well as favorable crude oil production capacity in Iraq are among the advantages of cooperation between the two countries.
The company's approach is to secure itself a toehold in global markets, Sepehri said.
The official added that after Iraq, cooperation with Oman and Qatar also are NIDC’s priority.
