![Image: Gulf Drilling International](http://media.assettype.com/bairdmaritime%2Fimport%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fmedia%2Fk2%2Fitems%2Fsrc%2F8d68cb12760dc7aef1c4cd5054a689ea.jpg?w=480&auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max)
Qatar Petroleum has awarded contracts for a total of eight offshore jack-up drilling rigs required for the North Field Expansion Project.
The rigs are planned to be mobilised and ready for drilling activities starting from January 2020.
Contracts for six of the rigs were awarded to Gulf Drilling International (GDI) while the contracts for the remaining two rigs were awarded to US-based Northern Offshore Drilling Operations.
The contracts are awarded for committed terms ranging from two to four years with exercisable options to extend the drilling programme durations if required.
The scope includes the drilling and completion of 80 new wells from eight wellhead platform locations.