KCA DEUTAG is the leading international drilling contractor in the Caspian region, having secured our first platform drilling rig contract in 1997 with BP/AIOC on its Chirag field with T-105. We have offices in Baku, Azerbaijan, and in Atyrau in Kazakhstan.

In 2005, we commenced drilling operations on the Central Azeri and West Azeri platforms for BP and in 2006 on the East Azeri and Shah Deniz platforms. The Deep Water Guneshli platform commenced operations for AIOC in September 2007, bringing the total number of platform rigs to six in the Caspian for which we have contracts until at least 2010 and, in some cases, 2012.

Nationalisation programme

KCA DEUTAG is fully committed to its local nationalisation programme and has recruited over 500 Azerbaijani nationals for our Azerbaijan operations. At present, nearly 80% of our employees are nationals and there are ongoing nationalisation and career development programmes to further increase this figure.

Offshore Kazakhstan, rig T-47 is drilling on an artificial island in the Northern sector of the Caspian Sea, 80km out of Atyrau, under contract to AGIP KCO. This is considered one of the most difficult and demanding operating environments with temperatures ranging from-40oC to +40oC and high levels of H2S content in the wells. The wells are directly comparable to HPHT wells in the North Sea. T-47 has been drilling continuously on the Kashagan Field since April 2002.

KCA DEUTAG currently employs 152 people offshore and about 22 people in the administration office in Atyrau, Kazakhstan. We are committed to our local nationalisation programme and the number of local personnel has increased from 66% in 2002 to 84% in 2008.

KCA DEUTAG has developed a rig move plan for T-47 to relocate in 2009 to a new artificial island, called EPC3. The new island was built by AGIP KCO with engineering support from RDS, KCA DEUTAG's Engineering Division.

Click here for our Kazakhstan office contact details.

Click here for our Baku office contact details.