SHANA -- An official with the National Iranian Drilling Company said 10 drilling rigs belonging to his company were being operated in new projects.

Siamak Hadad Soleimani said the projects entailed drilling 28 oil wells in oil and gas fields.

He said the projects were in the areas operated by the National Iranian South Oil Company (NISOC), Petroleum Engineering and Development Company (PEDEC), Iranian Central Oil Fields Company, and the Exploration Directorate of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) and lasted from 14 to 24 months.

He said the projects also included 7 wells in Gachsaran Oilfield, 10 wells in South Azadegan Oilfield, 5 wells in Naftshahr Field and 6 wells in the areas operated by the Exploration Directorate of the NIOC.

Soleimani also said that the projects were turnkey and were being developed under EPDF contracts whereby drilling rigs, procurement of technical and physical assets and engineering services would be provided by NIDC.