PICTORIAL: CNOOC Uganda Limited Kingfisher Oilfield Drilling Rig Shipped to Uganda

Yantai Port China: 29th July 2022: The most advanced Chinese oil drilling equipment in the oil and gas Industry exploration and development sector which was represented by the ‘Drilog and Welleader’ system and the land rig ‘LR8001’ is being shipped to Uganda.

This marked CNOOC’s great increase of technical resource investment in oilfield exploration and development in Uganda and that a new landscape of oil and gas supply as well as social and economic development would be formed in Uganda and even East Africa.

“LR8001” is a deluxe land rig customized for the KingFisher project in Uganda. As the first 8km fully automated silent rig in Africa, it is equipped with industry-leading technologies such as well site de-noising control, zero discharge system, and pipe column automation system. The whole set of equipment supports the integrated operation of various wellbore and well types, and during the operation effectively protects the regional ecological environment.

As a landmark achievement of Chinese oil equipment to transition to environmental friendliness, low carbon and intellectualization, it is a key project of ‘The Belt and Road’ Initiative.

Mr. Chen Zhuobiao, President of CNOOC Uganda Limited, expressed that KingFisher Oilfield is the first commercial oilfield discovered in Uganda and this oil drilling equipment will support Uganda to become an important crude oil producer in East Africa.

Will provide some localization job opportunities for Uganda people during the well drilling and completion process, train more localized talents for oilfield development and bring tangible changes to local economic development and livelihood to make the ‘Pearl of Africa’ brighter. The mobilization of the drilling rig marks that the cooperation between CNOOC and Uganda in the energy field continues to deepen and solidify.

The deepest well in KingFisher Oilfield is nearly 8000 meters, which has the highest well control standards, construction difficulties, operational risks, and technical requirements in Africa.

CNOOC Oil Service Limited (COSL) provides professional technical services for the entire life cycle of the oilfield has overall coordinated and refined the integrated well drilling and completion service plan to concentrate superior resources, organize technical equipment including the land rig “LR8001”, the ‘Drilog and Welleader’ system, ELIS system, logging and cementing integrated construction system, and more than 1,000 pieces of ancillary facility and tools, and equips an excellent management and operation team to ensure the smooth operation and transfer technology through the ‘mentoring’ mode.

The ‘Drilog and Welleader’ system is a world-leading LWD rotary steering drilling system independently developed by China and honored as the ‘Pearl in the Crown’ of drilling equipment.

CNOOC shows its determination to promote the high-quality development of ‘The Belt and Road’ Initiative and build a China-Africa community with a shared future.

Mr. Zhao Shunqiang, COSL President and CEO, said that COSL will unwaveringly strengthen international oil and gas cooperation and strive to build the Uganda project into a high-quality project as well as a benchmark project. Adhering to the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, COSL will continue to increase resource investment in countries along the ‘The Belt and Road’ and will build a ‘drilling, work over, completion, and stimulation” integrated service base in Uganda to promote the African market.

Besides, COSL will make more contributions to the win-win cooperative landscape with mutual promotion and mutual benefits.

CNOOC Uganda Limited is a subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, China’s largest producer of offshore crude oil and natural gas and one of the world’s largest independent oil and gas exploration and production companies. CNOOC Limited has operations in Asia, Africa, Oceania, North and South America, mainly engaging in exploration, development, production and sale of crude oil and natural gas.

CNOOC Uganda Limited was granted a production license in September 2013 for the Kingfisher development area.