National Iranian Oil Co. (NIOC) plans to resume exploration drilling offshore Iran following a five-year pause, according to a report by news service Shana.
NIOC’s Mohyeddin Jafari, speaking at a signing ceremony for a joint exploration cooperation agreement with Iranian Offshore Oil Co. (IOOC), said the hiatus in new drilling since 2019 had been due to rig shortages.
The cooperation should lead to joint exploration activities, such as drilling, seismic surveys and geophysical studies, including over the Nasrat field.
Moreover, NIOC plans to draw on the capabilities of its subsidiary companies to expand exploration, increasing the number of available exploration rigs to 12. That should double the pace of discovery in both offshore and onshore areas.
Jafari and Ruhollah Abdi, acting head of North Drilling Co., also signed two offshore rig supply contracts.
Sina Energy Holding is due to start offshore exploration drilling in the Persian Gulf shortly, the report added.
