Great Wall wins $100m-plus Oman drilling award

MUSCAT, OCT 11
China’s Great Wall Drilling Company has received a letter of award from Medco for a five-year drilling services programme involving two rigs in Oman, valued at more than $100 million, according to China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC).
Great Wall Drilling’s Oman branch received the award on October 8, CNPC’s China Petroleum News Centre said.
The programme covers Medco’s operations at Karim Small Fields (KSF), where it serves as project operator under a service arrangement with Petroleum Development Oman (PDO).
CNPC said the tender attracted several established domestic and international oilfield services companies, with requirements covering rig performance and the efficiency of moving rigs between well locations.
Great Wall Drilling had been tracking the opportunity since September 2022, when Medco began a market assessment for drilling rigs.
The Chinese contractor subsequently held several rounds of technical discussions with Medco and proposed integrated modular rigs designed for faster relocation. Its proposal also highlighted its drilling experience and health, safety and environmental management systems.
During the tender process, Great Wall Drilling presented its operating record across Gulf Cooperation Council markets and submitted performance data from previous projects, CNPC said.
The company plans to deploy Chinese-manufactured equipment, including top drives and iron roughnecks, under the programme.
The announcement did not disclose the exact award value beyond stating that it exceeded $100 million. It also did not specify the expected start date or the number of wells to be drilled during the five-year period.
The award represents a substantial long-term drilling services commitment at KSF, where Medco has maintained an active field-development programme.
Medco’s 2025 annual report said 33 wells were drilled at Karim Small Fields during the year. Its development activities also included infill drilling, workovers and enhanced oil recovery.
The company has continued reservoir-development work at KSF under its long-running service arrangement with PDO.
The award follows changes elsewhere in Medco’s drilling contractor base. Abraj Energy Services said earlier in 2026 that one of its rigs had completed a contract with Medco during the second quarter before being prepared for deployment under a new PDO contract.
There is no public confirmation that the two rigs covered by the Great Wall Drilling award will replace existing units or add drilling capacity.
Great Wall Drilling already has an established presence in Oman, and the award expands its long-term commitments in the country’s upstream oilfield services market.
Medco had not issued a separate public statement on the award at the time of writing. The final contract value, mobilisation schedule and planned drilling programme were not disclosed in CNPC’s announcement.