Hassi Messaoud, Algeria – Sonatrach CEO, Noureddine Daoudi, inaugurated a series of new projects and equipment for the national energy company in Hassi Messaoud on Sunday. The visit underscored Sonatrach’s commitment to strategic projects aimed at bolstering national drilling capabilities and enhancing operational performance.
According to a Sonatrach statement, Daoudi officially opened the “National Well Works Enterprise/Real-Time Eye of the Company” center, a decision-support hub. This center leverages a remote monitoring system powered by artificial intelligence, providing real-time insights to optimize operations. The center is equipped with advanced camera technology installed on various drilling rigs.
Notably, the center was completed in record time, entirely by Algerian expertise, with the collaboration of local start-ups. It will facilitate real-time operational monitoring and performance tracking through continuous assessment of key performance indicators, ultimately improving resource utilization.
Daoudi emphasized the critical role of innovation in achieving Sonatrach’s strategic objectives.
Two new 750-horsepower “fast-moving” drilling rigs were also commissioned. These are the first two in a series of eight drilling rigs with varying capacities planned under the medium-term plan. These acquisitions represent a significant leap for the National Well Works Enterprise, enabling it to diversify and strengthen its service offerings.
Furthermore, a 1500-horsepower drilling rig equipped with a variable frequency drive control system was put into operation, marking the completion of a program to refurbish five drilling rigs initially acquired as used equipment.
Abdelghafour Ghaleb, CEO of the National Well Works Enterprise, highlighted the benefits of this program, emphasizing the complete rehabilitation of the branch’s services through internal expertise. He revealed that this approach saved over $150 million, equivalent to the cost of purchasing new, comparable equipment.
Daoudi affirmed that these investments align with Sonatrach’s 2030 strategy. Concurrently, a project to establish drilling mud circuits, designed entirely by the company’s engineering team and manufactured by the National Railway Equipment Company, was presented.
