Strengthening Oil and Gas Operations in Iraq and the Middle East

PT Pertamina Drilling Services Indonesia, an operating subsidiary of PT Pertamina (Persero), and Halliburton Worldwide Limited have entered into a strategic partnership to support upstream hydrocarbon development in Iraq. Formalized via a Memorandum of Understanding at ADIPEC in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on November 2, 2026, the agreement establishes a joint technical and service framework targeting exploration, field development, and production optimization in the Middle East.

Operating Complexity in Middle Eastern Upstream Fields
Hydrocarbon reservoirs in mature and frontier basins across Iraq present complex drilling challenges, including high-pressure downhole formations, narrow drilling margins, and severe fluid circulation loss. Successfully executing multi-well drilling programs under these formation conditions requires pairing heavy drilling rig assets with specialized downhole engineering, fluid chemistry management, and real-time reservoir measurement services. The collaboration unites national drilling fleet management with advanced downhole technical services to deliver integrated well-construction packages.

Technical Scope and Service Integration Framework
The agreement establishes a coordinated commercial and engineering model spanning both Rig Services and Non-Rig Services. Pertamina Drilling contributes onshore drilling rigs, certified crew capabilities, well-servicing units, and regional operational management. Halliburton provides directional drilling systems, logging-while-drilling instrumentation, cementing infrastructure, specialized completion fluids, and digital reservoir stimulation technologies.

Operational workflows will focus on integrating rig floor mechanics with Halliburton’s automated directional drilling and real-time telemetry systems. Combining Pertamina Drilling’s mechanical drilling plant with downhole measurement tools mitigates wellbore instability, optimizes rate of penetration across abrasive formations, and ensures accurate target landing within pay-zone horizons. Technical teams from both organizations will structure tailored operating procedures and joint mobilization protocols to align with local regulatory frameworks and field-specific technical requirements.

Strategic Roadmapping and Phased Execution
The agreement expands upon a foundational agreement signed between PT Pertamina (Persero) and PT Halliburton Indonesia on February 18, 2026. The new framework transitions high-level strategic alignment into project-level execution in Iraq.

Joint engineering and commercial committees are conducting field-level technical assessments to identify target drilling campaigns across active Iraqi licenses. Initial operational phases will establish equipment staging, standardize cross-company health, safety, and environmental protocols, and configure integrated drilling and workover service packages for commercial field deployment.

Field Efficiency and Operational Impact
Integrating mechanical rig operations with specialized downhole services eliminates service interface gaps, lowers non-productive time, and enhances wellbore integrity during drilling. The partnership provides operators in Iraq with a unified drilling engineering solution that accelerates well delivery cycles, optimizes project economics, and expands regional service capabilities across Middle Eastern upstream infrastructure.

Edited by Romila DSilva, Induportals Editor, with AI assistance.