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Towing operation of “Neptune” rig has begun-PHOTO

18 October 2025 13:40 (UTC +04:00)

With the participation of ASCO vessels, a company under AZCON Holding, the operation to tow the “Neptun” jack-up drilling rig to the area where it will operate at sea – the “Umid” platform – began on October 18, ASCO told APA-Economics.

The towing operation involves the supply and support vessels “Mardakan,” “Zira,” and “Andoga.”

It should be noted that the “Neptun” jack-up drilling rig was brought to our country from the Turkmenistan sector of the Caspian Sea in June of this year for modification works. That operation was carried out with the participation of the vessels “Hovsan,” “Hovsan-2,” “SOCAR-1,” “Andoga,” “Shuvalan,” and “Mardakan.”

It should be recalled that through the “Neptun” rig, an underwater appraisal well will be drilled in the southern flank of the “Umid” field. Drilling of the well is planned to be completed this month. Drilling an underwater appraisal well with a jack-up floating drilling rig will be the first in SOCAR’s history. At the same time, this well is considered the deepest well drilled in the “Umid” field to date. The planned depth of the well is 7,067 meters. The drilling operations and the delivery of the well for layer testing are expected to take approximately 10 months.