Libya's Mellitah Oil and Gas Company said on Tuesday Norwegian contractor Borr Drilling's Vali rig will start drilling eight offshore gas wells for the group soon, with the aim of producing 160 million cubic feet of natural gas per day.
Mellitah, a joint venture between Libyan state oil firm (NOC) and Italy’s Eni, said the drilling operation would start within a couple of days and it is expected to finish within 15 months.
"This (production) will feed power plants, cement factories, and iron and steel plants, in addition to providing cooking gas," Mellitah said in its statement.
The company said the rig will drill in water depths ranging from 95 to 100 meters in offshore formation A.
Vali can drill deep wells both vertically and horizontally. Its cantilever structure is designed with a maximum combined load of 3,700 kips and is equipped with an advanced, fully-automated high capacity rack and pinion jacking system, with the capacity to accommodate 150 persons.
(Reporting by Ahmed Elumami, Editing by Louise Heavens and Jan Harvey)