The NIS Company continued with modernization in all business segments and acquired two new robotic drilling rigs that will bring significant financial and environmental benefits in the segment of exploration and production of oil and gas. These two facilities, named after our distinguished scientists “Tesla” and “Pupin”, are worth around 33 million euros and are one of the largest investments by NIS in the oil services segment in the history of the company. The goal of this investment is to increase work efficiency and optimize costs, while achieving environmental effects.
Compared to the conventional facilities of the older type, the new drilling facilities are modular, manual operations have been replaced by robotic systems, which enables significantly more efficient and safer work. The drive section is of the latest generation “EURO 5” with minimal impact on the environment, i.e. the amount of exhaust gas emissions is reduced and the noise level is significantly lower.
By putting the new plants into operation, it is expected to save up to 20 percent in drilling time. So, for example, with old rigs, it took an average of 11 days to move it to the next location, while new rigs will take an average of seven days, and in some cases only one day.
When it comes to the locations where the rig is placed during drilling, a space saving of 25 to 45 percent is projected compared to current rigs, which has a significant impact on the costs of the site construction itself, but also on the environment because a smaller area of land is occupied.
A robotic drilling rig implies synchronized operation of the equipment in order to continuously perform operations, whereby the possibility of error is reduced to a minimum. Advanced technology will enable more efficient rig maintenance, and the use of preventive systems and the analysis of diagnostic programs will ensure more reliable operation of the equipment. The employees to operate the rigs underwent theoretical training, as well as the practical one on a simulator, in the manufacturer’s training center.
“With the acquisition of new rigs, a great technological step forward was made, and NIS oil services will be additionally recognized as a reliable and efficient contractor in the field of oil service services, not only in our country, but also on the international market.” The environmental benefits that we achieve from the operation of new rigs are also of great importance, because the effects in environmental protection are as important to us as the business benefits. In addition, we improve the safety of our employees with new technologies and strengthen their expertise,” said Ognjen Stupar, head of NIS’ Drilling Production Plant.
