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MB Centuary sells a drilling rig

By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
MB Century sells Rig 32 to Webster Energy Services: what the move means for New Zealand geothermal drilling MB Century and Webster Energy Services have agreed the sale of MB Century’s Drillmec HH350 drilling rig, Rig 32, with completion slated for December 2026 after the rig finishes its current campaign for Tūaropaki Power Company. The transaction signals a strategic shift for MB Century,moving away from direct drilling ownership toward concentrating on engineering, reservoir and technical services,while Webster Energy uses the acquisition to deepen its footprint in the New Zealand geothermal market. This article summarises the deal, then drills into the operational, market and workforce implications for New Zealand’s geothermal sector, the strategic logic for both companies, and what the transaction suggests about capacity, competition and future drilling trends. Deal overview and timeline Parties: MB Century (seller) and Webster Energy Services (buyer). - Asset: Drillmec HH350 rig k...
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SLB partners With Star Energy To Fast track Geothermal Energy

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By Robert Buluma Alphaxioms
Advancing Geothermal                                    Development: SLB and Star energy Geothermal Join Forces  


The geothermal energy sector is set to take a major leap forward with the recent announcement of a collaboration agreement between SLB and Star energy Geothermal, a subsidiary of Indonesia’s Barito Renewables. This partnership aims to leverage cutting-edge technologies to revolutionize geothermal asset development, enhancing efficiency and economics in an industry critical to the global energy transition .


A Collaboration Rooted in Expertise  

Star energy Geothermal, known for managing 886 MW of installed geothermal electricity capacity, brings decades of expertise in geothermal resource development and operations. Partnering with  SLB, a global leader in technology solutions for the energy sector, this collaboration is expected to tackle longstanding challenges in geothermal development, such as high project risks and costs.

Irlan Amir, vice president of Renewables and Energy Efficiency at SLB, highlighted the significance of the partnership:  
"In developing technologies for the geothermal industry, collaborating with customers is critical for focusing on the use cases with the most significant economic impact. We look forward to delivering groundbreaking technologies that lower project risks and improve the overall project economics of this clean, firm, and flexible energy source.

Technological Innovations for Geothermal Advancement  

The collaboration will focus on several key areas, including subsurface characterization, drilling, and production technologies. Building on past projects where SLB  optimized well placement and utilized artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance geothermal drilling, this agreement aims to further integrate advanced solutions to shift the economics of conventional geothermal projects.  Some of the artistic projects which SLB has placed hands on is the Eavor's Geothermal Technology

Hendra Soetjipto Tan, president director of Barito Renewables and CEO of Star energy Geothermal, emphasized the strategic importance of this partnership:  
"Aligned with our strategic expansion to support energy transition, our goal will be enabled by leveraging advanced technologies to enhance the efficiency and economics of our current and future assets."

Implications for the Global Geothermal Sector  

This collaboration comes at a time when geothermal energy is gaining traction as a reliable, clean, and flexible energy source. By addressing technical and economic challenges, SLB and Star energy Geothermal aim to unlock the broader potential of geothermal projects worldwide. This partnership not only strengthens Indonesia’s leadership in renewable energy but also sets a benchmark for innovation and collaboration in the global geothermal industry.

The Future of Geothermal Energy  

With SLB's technological prowess and Star energy Geothermal’s operational expertise, this partnership is poised to deliver transformative solutions for the geothermal sector. As the world accelerates its shift to clean energy, such collaborations will play a pivotal role in overcoming barriers to geothermal development, paving the way for a sustainable energy future.

Stay tuned for updates as this groundbreaking collaboration unfolds, promising to reshape the geothermal landscape and redefine the economics of clean energy projects globally.

Source: SLB

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