ADNOC Drilling puts AI rig to work early

ADNOC Drilling has delivered AD-300, its first AI-enabled automated walking island rig, nearly three months ahead of schedule, advancing Abu Dhabi’s push to use robotics, data systems and lower-emission power options in offshore oilfield development.

The rig is the first of six next-generation island units covered by a $1.54 billion drilling services programme awarded by ADNOC Offshore across 2024 and 2025. Its early acceptance allows revenue generation to begin sooner than planned and accelerates the roll-out of a fleet intended to support ADNOC’s target of lifting production capacity to 5 million barrels per day by 2027.

AD-300 stands 50 metres high, roughly the height of a 15-storey building, and weighs about 2,000 tonnes. It has been designed to operate on ADNOC’s artificial islands offshore Abu Dhabi, where extended-reach drilling allows wells to be drilled from fixed island bases into offshore reservoirs. The rig’s walking system enables it to move between well slots without being dismantled, reducing downtime and improving well delivery times.

The unit combines automated pipe handling, AI-enabled monitoring, real-time data systems, digital controls and hybrid power capability. It can also connect to the electricity grid, offering scope to reduce diesel use and emissions where grid power is available. These features are aimed at limiting personnel exposure in complex operating environments, improving predictive maintenance and allowing faster operating decisions through live performance data.

Abdulla Ateya Al Messabi, chief executive of ADNOC Drilling, said the delivery of AD-300 marked “a step-change” in large-scale technology-enabled energy development, adding that the integration of automation, artificial intelligence and robotics was intended to improve safety, efficiency and consistency. He said the early delivery also demonstrated the company’s ability to bring high-value assets into operation ahead of schedule while supporting ADNOC’s production capacity expansion.

Tayba Abdulrahim Al Hashmi, chief executive of ADNOC Offshore, said AD-300 and the wider next-generation island rig fleet would help expand ADNOC’s production capacity and deliver long-term value, while positioning the UAE as a reliable supplier of energy at scale.

The rig forms part of a wider shift in Abu Dhabi’s offshore drilling strategy, where artificial islands have become central to development of the Zakum field and other offshore assets. These islands allow drilling crews to carry out work that would otherwise require conventional offshore rigs, while supporting long horizontal and extended-reach wells from stable surface locations.

ADNOC Drilling’s island rig expansion began with a $733 million award in July 2024 for three AI-enabled rigs to support operations at the offshore Zakum field. A further $806 million contract for three additional rigs followed in May 2025. Together, the six-rig programme strengthened the company’s medium-term fleet growth plan and extended revenue visibility over long-term contracts.

The new rigs are being developed with Honghua Group, with engineering focused on automation, digitisation and embedded AI capability. The design includes condition monitoring, performance optimisation and predictive analytics to improve uptime and reduce operating costs. The rigs are also being configured for extended-reach drilling, a method especially important for ADNOC’s artificial island operations.

ADNOC’s offshore operations have already drawn attention for very long extended-reach wells, including wells exceeding 50,000 feet. Such drilling requires high-specification equipment, precise geosteering and continuous monitoring of drilling conditions. The adoption of AI-enabled rig systems is intended to strengthen that operating model by allowing faster identification of mechanical issues, better planning of pipe-handling sequences and more stable drilling performance.

The company’s investment in AI-enabled rigs mirrors a wider trend across the energy sector, where producers are using automation to reduce non-productive time, limit safety exposure and improve asset reliability. Drilling contractors are under pressure to deliver more wells with tighter cost control while customers seek lower operational emissions and more predictable execution schedules.