For the KOC contract, worth KD 39.6 million ($137 million), PDI will deploy two 3,000-HP rigs to drill deep wells throughout onshore Kuwait over a period of five years. One of the rigs will be mobilised from Venezuela, while the other is already located in the state. PDI was low bidder for the contract when bids were opened at the start of the year, but the contract was only signed on 17 July.

For the three-year Aramco deal, worth about $50 million, PDI will supply and operate two 2,000-HP rigs for deep well drilling throughout the kingdom. Both rigs will be mobilised from Venezuela. The project is part of Aramco's drive to bring several of its wells online.

PDI has been active in the region since its former parent company Precision Drilling Corporation (PDC) acquired last year all the onshore drilling assets of GlobalSantaFe Corporation, which used to be wholly owned by Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC).

In early June, the US' Weatherford Internationalannounced an agreement to purchase PDC's energy services and international contract drilling divisions, including PDI, in a deal worth $2,280 million. As a result of the acquisition, PDI will soon move its headquarters to Dubai from Canada.