Despite the fall in oil prices and a tense market situation in Russia, one of the leading manufacturers of drilling rigs and oilfield equipment, has been able to prevail over a strong competitor from China and win the second-largest Top Drive contract

Bentec Drilling & Oilfield Systems, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of drilling rigs and oilfield equipment has won three major multi-million dollar contracts. The company also confirms its further expansion into the substantial offshore market.

The contract awards come at a time when conditions in the oil and gas industry continue to be challenging. According to a release, it is the first complete drilling rig to be built by Bentec for Caspian Sea offshore operations; the contract award is for three 320 tonne Cluster Slider rigs and further demand from Russia with an order for thirteen Top Drives, brings the total number to 63 sold in Russia so far.

Offshore rig contract award: Bentec will build its first complete drilling rig for Nobel Oil Ltd for offshore operations in the Caspian Sea, off the coast of Azerbaijan. The offshore drilling package will include the company’s recently launched 750 tonne Top Drive and new 3000hp Drawworks. The state-of-the-art rig will be installed on an existing platform in early 2016. This contract award builds on Bentec’s previous success in the Caspian Sea. In 2013, it sold its first 500 tonne Top Drive to an operator there.

Cluster Slider rigs contract award: Building on the successful launch of Bentec’s new generation Artic Cluster Slider rig in 2014, the company has been contracted to manufacture three 320 tonne Cluster Slider rigs for Russian joint stock company Samotlorneftepromkhim.

Thanks to the innovative design of these modular and compact land rigs, Bentec has reduced each rig’s weight and cabling by 150 tonnes and 6,500 metres, respectively. This reduces the time needed for assembly, disassembly and rig moves and, consequently manufacturing and transportation costs for the client.

The rigs will be manufactured at Bentec’s subsidiary in Tyumen, Russia. Commissioning of the three rigs is expected to be completed towards the end of this year, the release adds.

The award of a large-scale order by a Russian customer to supply 13 new generation TD-350-XT Top Drive systems is the second-largest Top Drive order in Bentec’s history. It is testament to Bentec’s excellent performance in the Russian market where it has been supplying land rigs for the last ten years. All of the units will be manufactured at the company’s German facility in Bad Bentheim and are scheduled to be delivered by October 2015.

Dirk Schulze, chief executive officer of Bentec says: 'We are delighted to have secured such substantial orders in these difficult times for our industry and are very much looking forward to working with these clients. These new contracts send out a strong signal to the market, not only in Russia but beyond, and are testament to our strategy of concentrating on providing premium quality at competitive prices, whilst reducing the total cost of ownership for our clients.'

DEFIES DIFFICULT MARKET SITUATION IN RUSSIA

Despite the fall in oil prices and a tense market situation in Russia, Bentec was able to prevail over a strong competitor from China and win the second-largest Top Drive contract in its history.

The rig-building Russian client will install the Top Drives 'made in Germany' on new drilling facilities. First units of the thirteen 350-tonne Top Drives – all of them will come in Bentec’s new, mechanically enhanced XT design – have already been delivered; the delivery of the last systems is scheduled for October 2015.

Trusting in the right strategy: This substantial contract is a strong signal to the market – in Russia and beyond – and is clearly due to the company’s strategy to concentrate on premium quality, sustainability and the minimisation of the total cost of ownership.

Additionally, it shows that Bentec is able to react on special market situations flexibly, says the company. Although having closed the deal at a very competitive selling price, the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) says it is pleased about securing the order, as it will ensure employment at both its headquarters in Bad Bentheim, Germany and its subsidiary in Tyumen, Russia.

Top Drive

BENTEC TOP DRIVES: A REAL SUCCESS STORY

Since 2011, the German specialist for high-quality rigs and equipment for oil, gas and geothermal drilling has sold 118 Top Drives worldwide – a number that no other OEM could achieve in such a short time.

And Bentec can proudly claim that its big seller is the one with the lowest non-productive time (NPT) rating, thanks to own-developed core components such as motor, gearbox and Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) that interact seamlessly.

A major advantage, says the company is that they ensure reduced downtime and maintenance costs. In addition to the 275/350/500-tonne models, it also offers the 750-tonne version.

HIGHEST TORQUE RATING IN COMPACT DESIGN

Suitable for onshore and offshore rigs, Bentec says its Top Drive portfolio comes with the highest continuous torque rating per model ranging between 35 200 ft-lbf (275 tonne) and 73 760 ft-lbf (750 tonne). Due to their compact design they can be easily integrated into existing rigs, reducing the need for modification to a minimum.

By adding the Iron Roughneck to its portfolio, Bentec says it can now serve as true one-stop shop for oilfield equipment. The new development, which is available in two versions – basic and premium – with five and eight-foot reach and 100 000 ft-lbf make-up torque/120 000 ft-lbf break-down torque, includes all essential functions for making up and breaking down tool joint connections in less time, thus reducing downtime and increasing the efficiency of pipe handling operations. The Iron Roughneck’s smart torque system and dynamic clamping force allows for precise high torque measurement. And since it is operated by a remote control or from the driller’s control room the risk of injuries is reduced significantly. Thus, Bentec’s Iron Roughneck meets the highest HSE standards, says the company in a release.

Thanks to its compact dimensions the new Iron Roughneck can be integrated into existing drill floors of land rigs (as portable unit) or offshore rigs (as permanent installation) with minimum modification. Moreover, it can easily replace products of competitors. Designed to comply with the latest European CE design standards, Atex conformity and international API standards, Bentec’s new development also has a central lubrication system which reduces maintenance to a minimum.

Bentec, an independent subsidiary of KCA Deutag, is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of drilling rigs and oilfield equipment with a long history and vast experience.