Ground Water Research Programme
Using its drilling expertise NDC partnered with the US Geological Survey (USGS) to help understand the quantity, quality, and distribution of ground water and to help safeguard these reserves for Abu Dhabi.
The programme it is jointly involved is known as the Ground Water Research Programme (GWRP), providing research on groundwater resources and the hydrology of the Emirate.
NDC has deployed its drilling equipment to drill observation wells in areas such as Al Ain near Abu Dhabi. GWRP has drilled over 600 research wells. NDC took over programme planning and management for the GWRP in 1998.
National drilling company through the years:
•1972 National Drilling Company (NDC) is established by a resolution of the Abu Dhabi Council of Ministers.
•1973-74 NDC takes delivery of its first onshore rigs, ND-01 and ND-02.
•1975 NDC acquires its first offshore rig, ND-03, naming it Al-Ittihad.
•1976-79 NDC expands its offshore fleet to a total of five rigs.
•1980-85 NDC establishes an offshore supply base and workshop, and buys one offshore, four onshore and three water well rigs.
•1986-87 Collapse of oil prices. NDC restructures, institutes a maintenance programme for idle rigs, and purchases two additional water well rigs.
•1989-93 Acquisition of five offshore and four onshore rigs
•1994 NDC commissions the construction of 19 -storey headquarters building.
•1998 NDC acquires two new onshore rigs, bringing the rig total to 13 onshore, 10 offshore and 6 water well rigs. NDC moves into its newly completed 17-storey headquarters building.
•2000 Implementation of the Well Delivery Limit (WDL) initiative saves 536 working days on 35 wells drilled onshore and 47 working days on four wells drilled offshore.
•2003 Three new environmentally friendly rigs, with state-of-the-art automation and HSE safeguards (ND-31, ND-32 and ND33) start operations in the sensitive area of Al Dhabiya Island.
•2004 Fourth new rig acquisition, onshore rig ND-34 starts operations.
•2005 Addition of the Multi-Purpose Service Vessel (MPSV) Al-Ghweifat. Offshore rig Al-Hail begins operations.
•NDC awarded the ISO 14001: 2004 Certificate for environment protection.
•2008 NDC acquires two new onshore rigs, ND-38 & ND-50 bringing the onshore rig total to 18 rigs. ND-17 completes 13 years without Lost Time Incident.
•2009 NDC wins ADNOC Health, Safety and Environment 2008 Award in safety category.
•2010 NDC signs contract renewal for the manufacture of onshore drilling rigs with China Petroleum Technology and Development (CPTDC), Baoji Oilfield Machinery Co. (BOMCO), OILMAN. NDC and ADCO celebrated an important HAS milestone with rig ND-09