International drilling and engineering contractor, KCA Deutag, has been awarded a $170m contract by Sonangol Pesquisa e Produção, S.A., for the provision of the Ben Rinnes jack-up rig in Angola.
The two-year agreement, which comes with a two-year extension option, will see KCA Deutag’s offshore division provide drilling and completion services, in various offshore locations in Angola. The contract will employ around one hundred people, the majority of whom will be Angolan nationals.
The Ben Rinnes is one of two jack-ups in KCA Deutag’s rig fleet. The rig has been operating in Gabon since January 2013, where it completed a multi-well drilling programme. It has achieved an excellent performance record, celebrating six years Lost Time Incident (LTI) free in April, 2014.
KCA Deutag has been operating in Angola since 2005, where it currently manages three platform drilling rigs.
Rune Lorentzen , President of KCA Deutag’s offshore division said: “We are extremely proud to partner with Angola’s national oil company. This award is a reflection of the quality and strength of our operations across the globe, and our approach to working with our customers to understand their needs and provide them with drilling solutions for the future.”
“Angola is the second largest oil producer in Africa and it continues to be a major hub of activity for KCA Deutag. We have worked hard to build a strong presence within the region and this contract will only serve to enhance our operations even further.”