Capitalising on the rapidly increasing demand for drilling services in the Mena (Middle East North Africa) region, Dalma Energy, an Aabar subsidiary which currently operates 18 rigs, has invested $80 million in purchasing four new rigs.

The new rigs have a capacity of 2,000 HP (horse power) and can drill up to a depth of more than 20,000 ft.
They will increase Dalma’s rig fleet to 22. The purchase caps a $250 million fleet expansion plan which Dalma Energy had undertaken in October 2004. 
Dalma Energy has also recently opened its offices in Libya as it seeks to expand its operations in the region.
Making the announcement at Adipec 2006, the region’s largest oil and gas trade show being held November 5 – 8, 2006, Khaled Ahmed Salem Al Ameri, director, Dalma Energy said, “The four new land rigs for Dalma have been built in China. One of them is enroute to Saudi Arabia for commissioning on a contract with Saudi Aramco. The three remaining rigs will be delivered by the first quarter of 2007.”
Dalma has a strong track-record in the drilling business, having successfully implemented contracts for Saudi Aramco, Petroleum Development Oman, Qatar Petroleum and Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation Limited, among other leading oil and gas companies. 
“We have achieved a rig utilisation of one hundred per cent and doubled the size of our operations in less than 18 months since our acquisition by Aabar last year. This aggressive growth will continue. We are committed to supporting oil companies in the region as they seek to increase production in line with global demand,” added Al Ameri.
Of the 18 rigs owned and operated by Dalma Energy currently, seven are in Saudi Arabia, eight in Oman, two in India and the remaining rig is in Qatar.