A Major Step in the Balal Field Development Plan: Deployment of DCI-1 Rig and Full Readiness for Development Drilling
The DCI-1 drilling rig has now been deployed at the Balal gas field location, and pre-loading and final stabilization operations are currently underway.
According to the Public Relations and International Affairs Department of the Petropars Group, Dr. Hamidreza Saghafi, CEO of the group, stated that immediately after completion of these operations and confirmation of full stabilization, development drilling operations at the Balal field will commence. The project is being implemented with the aim of producing 500 million cubic feet per day of natural gas to help offset the country’s gas imbalance.
He added that following the successful installation of the Balal jacket and its accessories, weighing more than 3,100 tons, in June 2025, the deployment of the rig alongside the installed jacket today marks a key and decisive point in the project’s entry into the drilling execution phase. Accordingly, the Balal Project has officially entered the preparation stage for the commencement of development well drilling.
Referring to the planned progress of topside construction, the Petropars CEO stated: “In continuation of the project’s upward trajectory, topside fabrication has witnessed a significant and well-planned leap, with physical progress increasing from approximately 4 percent in September 2024 to over 31 percent by October 2025. This growth of more than 26 percent within a limited timeframe reflects the sound operational approach, managerial cohesion, and focused efforts of all committed Petropars units and specialists. The total weight of the topside, including the connecting bridge, flare platform, tripod jacket, and related accessories, is estimated at over 3,500 tons.”
He emphasized that a key feature of the Balal Project is the synchronization and alignment of drilling operations with the completion of topside construction, such that upon completion of drilling and well preparation, the topside will be ready for installation on the jacket. This temporal alignment is a clear symbol of Petropars’ technical and managerial maturity in executing complex offshore projects.
In another part of his remarks, Dr. Saghafi expressed appreciation for the esteemed employer, Pars Oil and Gas Company, as well as all project contractors for their support and close cooperation. He also sincerely thanked Petropars’ dedicated and specialized colleagues whose commitment, technical capabilities, and tireless efforts made this critical phase possible, noting that today, once again, every colleague can proudly say they have contributed to one of the country’s major national energy projects.
Mr, Shahriari, Project Manager of the Balal Project, also stated: “The deployment of the DCI-1 rig at the field location and the commencement of drilling preparation stages are the result of precise planning, continuous supervision, and effective cooperation between offshore and onshore teams. The project is now fully ready to begin development drilling operations.”
He added that the simultaneous completion of drilling and readiness of the topside for installation on the jacket demonstrates proper resource management, execution discipline, and full utilization of Petropars’ technical and managerial capacities. This path will continue decisively until the Balal Project is realized as a successful model of offshore project execution in the country.
It is worth noting that through rig deployment, jacket completion, coordinated topside progress, and initiation of final drilling stages, Petropars is advancing toward gas production from the Balal field—an achievement symbolizing the strength of Iranian engineering and national project management capabilities.