Muscat – Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) has awarded Weatherford an integrated three-year drilling services contract covering 274 wells in the Marmul and Greater Saqr fields, as the state-owned oil and gas company seeks to raise production while improving drilling efficiency and cost control.

Under the contract, Weatherford will drill oil production and water injection wells under a phased programme designed to improve planning and deployment of drilling equipment and resources across the two fields.

PDO said the contracting model is expected to reduce costs by about 20% compared with traditional pricing models. It will also strengthen cost control and establish clearer accountability for execution and results.

The agreement comes as PDO continues to focus on maintaining production growth while improving the efficiency of its operations and maximising the value of Oman’s hydrocarbon resources.

Dr Aflah bin Said Al Hadhrami, Managing Director of PDO, said the company’s ability to develop production efficiently and responsibly was fundamental to maximising the value of Oman’s hydrocarbon resources.

“This agreement represents another step towards achieving this ambition and solidifying production growth as a key pillar of PDO’s corporate transformation journey,” he said in a statement to Oman News Agency.

For Weatherford, the contract adds to its work with PDO while providing a platform to support drilling activity across two of the company’s targeted fields.

Girish Saligram, CEO of Weatherford, said the contract reflected the company’s focus on operational excellence, innovation and sustainable value creation.

He said Weatherford would support PDO’s objectives of improving production efficiency and the sustainable development of its fields, while building local capabilities, developing Omani talent and expanding opportunities across the local value chain.

The company will also focus on efficient execution and maximising local value through the project, Saligram said.