
Oman: Abraj reports strong market position and operational gains
MARKET LEADERSHIP IN OMAN'S DRILLING SECTOR
Abraj maintained a significant 25% market share in Oman's drilling industry, reinforcing its status as a dominant player. The company operated 27 drilling rigs and 5 workover units, demonstrating a well-balanced fleet capable of supporting upstream oil and gas operations.
A key highlight of the presentation was the high rig utilization rates, which stood at 92% for drilling rigs and 100% for workover units. This efficiency underscores the company's ability to optimize asset deployment while maintaining operational excellence.
OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE AND PERFORMANCE GAINS
Abraj recorded a total of 340 wells drilled in 2024, covering a combined drilling distance of 7,774 kilometers. This output reflects the company's sustained contribution to Oman's upstream energy sector and its ability to deliver large-scale drilling operations efficiently.
The company also made strides in improving operational efficiency, as evidenced by a notable reduction in Non-Productive Time (NPT). In 2023, Abraj's NPT stood at 1.24%, which significantly decreased to 0.76% in 2024—well below the global industry average. This improvement highlights the company's focus on minimizing downtime and enhancing service reliability for its clients.
Abraj reported serving 10 clients in 2024, demonstrating its ability to cater to a diversified portfolio of energy operators.
WORKFORCE STRENGTH AND FLEET AGE
The company's workforce comprised 2,709 employees from 24 nationalities, reflecting a diverse and skilled talent pool. This workforce is instrumental in maintaining the company's high standards of service and operational excellence.
Meanwhile, Abraj's fleet maintained a competitive average rig age of 9.4 years for drilling rigs and 11.4 years for workover units. This relatively young fleet ensures reliability and efficiency in the company's drilling and maintenance operations.
FUTURE EXPANSION AND MARKET OUTLOOK
Abraj is actively exploring regional expansion opportunities in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia (KSA), and Algeria, signaling its ambition to grow beyond Oman's borders.
Kuwait: The company achieved a major milestone by launching its first international project in Kuwait (WJO), deploying two rigs in February and July 2024. This expansion increased Abraj's fleet to 27 rigs, with discussions ongoing for a third rig in Kuwait. Additionally, Abraj has been qualified for cementing services with Kuwait Oil Company (KOC).
Saudi Arabia (KSA): The company is currently undergoing pre-qualification for drilling and workover services, aiming to enter this key Gulf market.
Algeria: Abraj is in advanced discussions with Sonatrach, Algeria's national oil company, to collaborate on drilling, cementing, and hydraulic fracturing activities.
2022 © All right reserved for Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Zawya
01-08-2025
- Zawya
Kuwait Petroleum annual profit slips 5.8% on lower crude prices
KUWAIT: State-owned Kuwait Petroleum Corporation posted a net profit of 1.366 billion dinars ($4.47 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, down 5.8% year-on-year according to Reuters calculations based on the company's latest annual report. The company and its subsidiaries posted a net profit of 1.450 billion dinars in the previous fiscal year. KPC did not give a reason for the decline, but lower oil prices likely dented returns. The average price of Kuwaiti crude fell 5.5% to $79.70 per barrel during the 2024/25 fiscal year, down from $84.40 a year earlier, according to Kuwait-based financial advisory firm AlShall. Despite the drop in profit, KPC subsidiary Kuwait Oil Company achieved its annual production target for the first time in seven years, with sustainable capacity reaching 2.59 million barrels per day, the report said. Kuwait Oil Company is the country's main crude producer, alongside Kuwait Gulf Oil Company, which operates in the Neutral Zone shared with Saudi Arabia. The report described the production milestone as "a major operational achievement" and noted that heavy crude output reached 95,000 bpd — its highest level since the heavy oil project began in 2020. (Reporting by Ahmed Hagagy. Editing by Yousef Saba and Mark Potter)


Zawya
30-07-2025
- Zawya
Omna: Abraj wins PDO contracts for 6 land drilling rigs in Block 6
Muscat – Abraj Energy Services, Oman's leading oil and gas services provider, on Tuesday announced the signing of significant contracts with Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) to provide six state-of-the-art land drilling rigs for operations in Block 6, one of the sultanate's most strategic energy assets. The rigs are scheduled to commence operations in stages starting from Q4 2026. This milestone agreement marks a major expansion of Abraj's long-standing partnership with PDO and reflects the company's trusted capabilities in delivering safe, efficient, and high-quality drilling solutions. 'This agreement stands as a solid testament to Abraj's consistent operational excellence and the trust we have built through reliable, efficient, and safe delivery,' said Hood Khalfan al Brashdi, Acting Director of Business Development at Abraj Energy Services. 'With our advanced rig fleet and deep technical capabilities, we are proud to expand our collaboration with PDO, reinforcing our role as a key enabler in Oman's energy journey and fulfilling our commitment to performance without compromise.' In addition to the PDO contracts, Abraj continues to accelerate its regional growth. In May, the company signed a contract with BP Oman to supply a drilling rig for Block 61. Abraj has also secured a new contract with ARA Petroleum for drilling operations in Block 44 and signed a contract to deliver a third 3000 HP rig for the WJO field in Kuwait, further reinforcing its presence in key upstream projects across the region. Eng Sulaiman Abdullah al Salmi, PDO Gas Drilling Team Leader, said, 'We value our partnership with Abraj, a company that consistently aligns with our operational and HSE (health, safety and environmental) standards. This contract reaffirms our joint commitment to empowering the national energy sector with safe, efficient, and high-performance solutions.' Since 2020, Abraj has delivered over RO850mn in In-Country Value (ICV), with an Omanisation rate nearing 93%. Within PDO-related operations over the past three years alone, the company generated RO79.1mn in ICV – representing 78% of total spend – including RO20.5mn in 'Made in Oman' procurement and RO33.3mn directed to SMEs and local community contractors. These figures reaffirm Abraj's alignment with national priorities and its role as a key enabler of Oman's energy sector development. In 2024, Abraj recorded a strong financial performance with revenues reaching RO151.6mn, EBITDA of RO53mn, and profit after tax of RO16.9mn. The company maintains industry-leading safety standards, achieving zero Lost Time Incidents (LTI) for the third consecutive year. Rig utilisation remained high, with over 86% for drilling rigs and 100% for workover rigs. Abraj's contractual backlog now exceeds RO500mn, highlighting long-term business resilience and deep customer trust. © Apex Press and Publishing Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (


Zawya
30-06-2025
- Zawya
Kuwaiti firm wins $45mln oil service deal
A major Kuwaiti engineering company has won a contract to provide maintenance services to oil production facilities in the OPEC member. Heavy engineering industries and shipbuilding company (HEISCO) said in a bourse disclosure statement that the contract was awarded by the state-owned Kuwait Oil Company (KOC), which manages the upstream sector in the Gulf state. The project, awarded after strong competition from other companies, involves 'provision of repair and revamping services for production facilities in North Kuwait,' it said. HEISCO, one of the largest private industrial entities in Kuwait, has been a frequent winner of oil contracts awarded by state oil operators over the past years. Kuwait, a founding OPEC member, has been locked in a massive programme to expand its hydrocarbon industry within a long-term strategy stretching until 2040. Sheikh Nawaf Al-Sabah, CEO of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), which manages the country's hydrocarbon industry, said in 2024 that there are plans to invest up to $50 billion in the next five years to expand oil and gas output capacity. (Writing by Nadim Kawach; Editing by Anoop Menon) (