Gulf Drilling International
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA Qatari drilling contractor providing offshore and onshore rigs and related services to oil and gas operators.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Gulf Drilling International Limited (GDI) is a Qatar-based oil and gas drilling contractor headquartered in West Bay, Doha. It was established on 18 May 2004 as Qatar’s first drilling contractor through a joint venture between QatarEnergy and Japan Drilling Co. Ltd. The company was created to provide drilling capacity and associated services for exploration and production activity in Qatar, where offshore and onshore energy development is a central part of the national economy. GDI’s business is centered on the ownership, operation, management and contracting of drilling assets. Its fleet includes offshore jack-up drilling rigs, land rigs, an offshore accommodation barge and lift boats. These units support drilling and related field operations for oil and gas exploration and production companies. The company also maintains supporting infrastructure such as crew accommodation, warehouses, workshops, cranes and transportation equipment. Its principal customer base is in Qatar and includes QatarEnergy and other operators and service users associated with the country’s hydrocarbon sector. Named international or multinational customers include Qatar Shell Services Company, North Oil Company, Occidental Petroleum of Qatar, Maersk Oil Qatar, Qatargas, JX-Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration, QatarEnergy Development Company and Dolphin Energy. Ownership changed materially during GDI’s first decade. In July 2007, QatarEnergy acquired a 10% interest from Japan Drilling, increasing its stake to 70%. In April 2014, Gulf International Services signed a Declaration of Share Purchase Agreement with Japan Drilling to acquire the remaining 30%. The transaction took effect on 1 May 2014, making GDI a wholly owned subsidiary of Gulf International Services. Gulf International Services is a Qatari public shareholding company listed on the Qatar Exchange and operates across oil and gas services and related sectors. GDI expanded its offshore fleet during the 2010s. The Dukhan jack-up rig began operations in November 2014. The company also contracted shipyards in Singapore and Qatar to build the Halul jack-up drilling rig and the Al-Safliya lift boat. Both entered service in 2016, and Al-Safliya was identified as GDI’s first newly built lift boat constructed at a Qatari shipyard. A major growth phase followed the North Field Expansion Project. In May 2019, GDI was awarded six of the project’s eight offshore jack-up drilling rigs, with drilling activities scheduled to begin in January 2020. GDI subsequently formed a 50:50 joint venture with Seadrill Limited to manage and operate five jack-up rigs under contracts with QatarEnergy. The five contracts were reported at a combined value of $656 million. In 2024, GDI acquired Seadrill’s remaining 50% interest in the GulfDrill joint venture and three jack-up rigs, strengthening GDI’s direct control of assets associated with its Qatar drilling operations. By December 2024, the company reported that its offshore jack-up fleet, onshore rigs and offshore accommodation barge were contracted. GDI therefore occupies a significant position in Qatar’s drilling-services market, combining a locally rooted operating base with a fleet capable of supporting both offshore and land-based activity. Its current identity is primarily that of an integrated drilling contractor rather than a consumer-facing brand: customers engage GDI for rig capacity, operational management and related field-support capabilities.
History
Gulf Drilling International was established on 18 May 2004 as the first drilling contractor in Qatar. It began as a joint venture between QatarEnergy and Japan Drilling Co. Ltd., reflecting Qatar’s effort to develop domestic drilling capacity for its growing oil and gas industry. The company’s role was to provide drilling rigs and related operational services to exploration and production companies active in Qatar and surrounding markets. The ownership structure began to shift in 2007, when QatarEnergy acquired a 10% interest from Japan Drilling. This increased QatarEnergy’s stake to 70%. In April 2014, Gulf International Services entered into a Declaration of Share Purchase Agreement with Japan Drilling for the latter’s remaining 30% interest. The purchase became effective on 1 May 2014, and GDI became a wholly owned subsidiary of Gulf International Services. Gulf International Services is a Qatar Exchange-listed public shareholding company with activities in oil and gas services and related fields; it also owns businesses including Gulf Helicopters, Al-Koot Insurance and Reinsurance, and Amwaj Catering Services. GDI’s asset base expanded during the 2010s. The offshore jack-up rig Dukhan started operating in November 2014. In the same period, GDI entered into shipbuilding arrangements in Singapore and Qatar for a new jack-up rig, Halul, and a lift boat, Al-Safliya. Both assets began operations in 2016. Al-Safliya was notable as the first newly built lift boat commissioned by GDI from a Qatari shipyard. These additions complemented GDI’s established offshore and onshore drilling activities and broadened its ability to support offshore field operations. The company’s most significant reported contract expansion came with Qatar’s North Field Expansion Project. In May 2019, GDI secured six of the project’s eight offshore jack-up drilling rigs, with drilling activities commencing in January 2020. To manage part of this work, GDI formed the GulfDrill joint venture with Seadrill Limited. The venture was owned equally by the two companies and was established to manage and operate five jack-up rigs under QatarEnergy contracts. The five contracts were reported to have a combined value of $656 million. In 2024, GDI bought Seadrill’s remaining 50% interest in GulfDrill and acquired three jack-up rigs from Seadrill. The transaction increased GDI’s direct ownership and control of drilling assets and marked another step in the consolidation of its Qatar-centered offshore fleet. GDI provides offshore jack-up and onshore drilling services, as well as accommodation-barge and lift-boat support. Its supporting facilities include crew accommodation, warehouses, workshops, cranes and transportation equipment. The company’s customer list includes QatarEnergy, Qatar Shell Services Company, North Oil Company, Occidental Petroleum of Qatar, Maersk Oil Qatar, Qatargas, JX-Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration, QatarEnergy Development Company and Dolphin Energy. As of December 2024, GDI reported that all of its offshore jack-up rigs, onshore rigs and its offshore accommodation barge were on contract. The company’s listed fleet included jack-up rigs such as Al-Bidda, Al-Jassra, Al-Khor, Al-Wajba, Al-Zubarah, Dukhan, Halul, Laffan, Leshat and Mesaieed; the Zikreet accommodation barge; the Rumailah and Al-Safliya lift boats; and onshore rigs designated GDI-1 through GDI-8. GDI remains an active drilling-services company whose business is closely linked to Qatar’s upstream energy development.
- 2024
GDI takes full control of GulfDrill
[1]GDI acquired Seadrill’s remaining 50% GulfDrill interest and three jack-up rigs.
- 2020
North Field Expansion drilling begins
[1]Drilling activities associated with the North Field Expansion awards began in January.
- 2019
North Field Expansion awards
[1]GDI was awarded six of the eight offshore jack-up rigs for the North Field Expansion Project.
- 2016
Halul and Al-Safliya enter service
[1]The Halul jack-up rig and Al-Safliya lift boat began operations following construction arrangements in Singapore and Qatar.
- 2014
GDI becomes a Gulf International Services subsidiary
[1]The purchase of Japan Drilling’s remaining 30% interest became effective on 1 May, making GDI wholly owned by Gulf International Services.
- 2014
Dukhan begins operations
[1]The offshore jack-up rig Dukhan entered operation in November.
- 2007
QatarEnergy raises its stake
[1]QatarEnergy acquired 10% from Japan Drilling and increased its ownership of GDI to 70%.
- 2004
GDI is established
[1]Gulf Drilling International was established on 18 May as a joint venture between QatarEnergy and Japan Drilling, becoming Qatar’s first drilling contractor.
Products and positioning
A Qatar-focused, fleet-based drilling contractor serving oil and gas exploration and production companies, with capabilities spanning offshore jack-up operations, land drilling, accommodation support and lift-boat services.
Offshore drilling services
Offshore jack-up drilling
GDI operates offshore jack-up rigs for drilling campaigns in Qatar’s waters. These mobile units are used by oil and gas operators for development and exploration wells and form the core of GDI’s offshore business. The fleet includes named units such as Al-Bidda, Al-Jassra, Al-Khor, Al-Wajba, Al-Zubarah, Dukhan, Halul, Laffan, Leshat and Mesaieed.
Land drilling services
Onshore drilling
GDI provides land-based drilling through an onshore fleet identified as GDI-1 through GDI-8. These rigs support onshore exploration and production activity for customers in Qatar. As of December 2024, all of the listed onshore rigs were reported to be under contract.
Offshore support services
Offshore accommodation
The Zikreet offshore accommodation barge supports offshore personnel and drilling operations. GDI uses accommodation capability alongside its rig fleet to provide an integrated operating package for offshore campaigns. The company reported its accommodation barge as being on contract as of December 2024.
Offshore support services · 2016
Lift-boat services
GDI operates lift boats used for offshore field support and related marine activities. Its identified lift boats are Rumailah and Al-Safliya. Al-Safliya entered service in 2016 and was the first newly built lift boat commissioned by GDI from a Qatari shipyard.
Drilling operations and support
Rig management and field support
Beyond providing individual rigs, GDI manages and operates drilling assets for customers and joint-venture partners. Its operating platform includes crew accommodation, warehousing, workshops, cranes and transportation equipment, allowing the company to coordinate equipment, personnel and logistics around drilling campaigns.
Brand decisions
2024
Acquire Seadrill’s remaining GulfDrill stake and three rigsM&ABackground
GDI and Seadrill had previously owned GulfDrill equally and used the venture to manage five jack-up rigs under QatarEnergy contracts.
Action taken
GDI acquired Seadrill’s remaining 50% interest in GulfDrill and three jack-up drilling rigs.
Aftermath
The transaction gave GDI full ownership of the GulfDrill joint venture and increased its direct control of offshore drilling assets.
2019
Participate in North Field Expansion drillingStrategyBackground
Qatar’s North Field Expansion Project required a substantial increase in offshore drilling capacity.
Action taken
GDI won six of the eight offshore jack-up rig awards and formed a 50:50 GulfDrill joint venture with Seadrill to manage and operate five jack-up rigs for QatarEnergy.
Aftermath
The associated drilling activities began in January 2020, and the five contracts were reported to be worth $656 million.
Combined contract value. $656 million (2019 award; five contracts)
2014
Acquire Japan Drilling’s remaining GDI interestM&ABackground
Japan Drilling retained a 30% interest in GDI after QatarEnergy increased its stake in 2007. Gulf International Services sought to consolidate ownership of the drilling contractor.
Action taken
Gulf International Services signed a Declaration of Share Purchase Agreement in April 2014 and completed the acquisition effective 1 May 2014.
Aftermath
GDI became a wholly owned subsidiary of Gulf International Services.
2014
Commission new offshore assetsProduct launchBackground
GDI expanded its offshore operating capacity through new-build assets intended to serve contracted drilling and field-support work.
Action taken
The company entered into shipyard contracts in Singapore and Qatar for the Halul jack-up rig and Al-Safliya lift boat.
Aftermath
Both assets began operations in 2016; Al-Safliya was the first newly built GDI lift boat constructed by a Qatari shipyard.
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