TEHRAN – National Iranian Drilling Company (NIDC) drilled and completed 116 oil and gas wells in the first 11 months of the current Iranian year (March 2025-February 2026), marking a 23 percent increase compared with the same period last year, a senior official at the company said.
Masoud Afshar, deputy head of drilling operations at NIDC, said the completed wells included 25 development and appraisal wells and 91 workover wells, supporting production maintenance and output enhancement.
Of the total, 95 wells were drilled in areas operated by the National Iranian South Oil Company, eight wells in fields managed by the Iranian Central Oil Fields Company, three wells in blocks overseen by the Iranian Offshore Oil Company and four wells for the Petroleum Engineering and Development Company. Six additional wells were completed and delivered under project contracts.
Afshar said total drilling footage reached 117,483 meters over the 11-month period, up 12 percent year-on-year.
He added that 20 drilling rigs out of the company’s 64 active units are currently being relocated across operational zones, as part of efforts to improve efficiency and maintain drilling momentum.
As announced by the former managing director of the company, contracts have been signed with domestic companies for renovation of drilling fleet.
Mehran Makvandi reminded: “In recent months, numerous contracts have been signed with major domestic companies for the manufacturing and purchase of a number of essential equipment, including the manufacturing of main engines and drilling rig generators, as well as the renovation and modernization of the existing fleet.”
Presenting a report on the company’s performance in the current Iranian calendar year (started on March 21, 2025), and the measures taken regarding the plan for modernization and renovation of the drilling fleet and technical and engineering services, the official noted: “Our colleagues are continuously following up to ensure these contracts are finalized within the set timeframe and that conditions for the qualitative and quantitative enhancement of services are provided”,
Meanwhile, the managing director of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) has emphasized the need to update the rigs and operational equipment of the NIDC and stated that $800 million has been allocated for the renovation and modernization of this company’s drilling fleet and equipment.
Hamid Bovard, speaking at a meeting with the managers and officials of the National Iranian Drilling Company, and while appreciating the efforts of the company’s staff in realizing the plans and objectives of the country’s oil industry, stated: “It is expected that this company, as one of the upstream companies and the largest drilling company in Iran, through systematic planning, a shift in managerial perspective, and by providing suitable solutions, will be able to even better respond to the needs of the oil industry.”
He referred to the presented statistics on the performance of the National Iranian Drilling Company in the first half of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-September 22), and the significant growth in the drilling, ancillary services, and other service and support sectors of the company, adding: “Considering the oil industry’s plans for increasing production and developing oil and gas fields, the expectations from the National Iranian Drilling Company go beyond this. Of course, measures must also be taken to strengthen this company’s infrastructure and address its challenges.”
The former managing director of the National Iranian Oil Company further stated: “The National Iranian Drilling Company holds a special position in the oil industry in terms of specialized human resources and potential and actual capacities. Through proper planning, initiative, and the formation of strong executive and supervisory teams, the grounds for even greater dynamism of this company should be provided.”
Referring to the allocation of $800 million for the renovation and modernization of the drilling fleet and integrated technical and engineering service equipment of the National Iranian Drilling Company (NIDC), Bovard noted: “In this regard, good contracts have been signed with domestic manufacturing and knowledge-based companies. Through interaction, synergy, and continuous follow-up, we will witness the modernization and a new chapter in the more prominent and active presence of NIDC in the drilling industry market.”
The deputy managing director of the NIDC for technical affairs has announced a growth of over 12 percent in the integrated technical and specialized services of the drilling industry provided to applicant companies in the country’s oil-rich regions during the first half of the current Iranian year.
Jahangir Shojaei stated that these services directly impact drilling operations, as well as the repair and completion of oil and gas wells, including those currently in production.
He mentioned: “The total number of technical and specialized ancillary drilling services, which are part of the production chain and play a key role in maintaining, preserving, and increasing production, amounted to 3,486 operations during this period.”
He added: “The National Iranian Drilling Company oversees two departments—Technical Services and Specialized Services—handling integrated ancillary services, which encompass dozens of specific specialized services. The company’s capability, in terms of having experienced specialists and operational equipment to deliver these services, distinguishes NIDC from other companies active in this field in the region. This is because, in the drilling industry, each service is typically provided by a separate company, while NIDC is the only company in the country that offers these services in an integrated manner.”
National Iranian Drilling Company, a subsidiary of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), is a key player in Iran’s oil and gas industry, responsible for drilling operations.
The company that conducts exploration, development, and drilling of oil and gas wells, as well as repair and maintenance services, and has been actively involved in both onshore and offshore drilling projects, is now ready to play a more prominent role in the region.
The deputy managing director of the company has announced the implementation of a comprehensive program to modernize the drilling fleet, widely localize equipment, manufacture a national drilling engine, and set a goal of repairing and completing 150 wells by the end of this year, emphasizing: “Based on decades of experience, this company is ready to play a more prominent role at the regional level.”
Regarding the most important challenges of the NIDC due to sanctions, Masoud Afshar has stated: “Domestic production of many equipment has reduced dependence on foreign countries, but in the engine sector, we had challenges that are being resolved with the new contract. The production of SCR, cables, and tanks are other successful examples of self-sufficiency.”
“Our experts are currently involved in international projects, and the successful drilling experience in Turkmenistan will be a basis for expanding activities in other neighboring countries”, the official has underlined.
Afshar has emphasized that with the development of technology, self-sufficiency in equipment, and the benefit of efficient human resources, the National Drilling Company is firmly on the path of sustainable development and is ready to play a more effective role in the regional arena.
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