Baker Hughes expands UBCTD operations with Aramco in Saudi Arabia, boosting gas field development through advanced technology and integrated solutions.
Baker Hughes, a global leader in energy technology, has announced a new multi-year agreement with Aramco to significantly expand its integrated underbalanced coiled tubing drilling (UBCTD) operations across Saudi Arabia’s natural gas fields. The new order, booked in the third quarter of 2025, represents a major milestone in the long-standing partnership between the two companies, aimed at boosting gas development and production efficiency in the Kingdom.
As part of the agreement, Baker Hughes will increase its UBCTD fleet from four to ten units, enabling broader deployment across both greenfield and re-entry drilling projects in Saudi Arabia. The company will deliver comprehensive, integrated solutions that encompass every facet of UBCTD operations, including coiled tubing drilling units, underbalanced drilling services, well construction, geoscience support, and project management. This approach is designed to accelerate Aramco’s access to natural gas resources from both new and existing fields, enhancing production while maintaining efficiency and environmental performance.
“This expansion marks the culmination of nearly 20 years of successful collaboration between Baker Hughes and Aramco in underbalanced coiled tubing drilling,” said Amerino Gatti, Executive Vice President of Oilfield Services & Equipment at Baker Hughes. “By integrating advanced technologies and a complete service model, we can help Aramco unlock challenging hydrocarbon reservoirs more efficiently. This initiative not only supports the Kingdom’s energy objectives but also lays the groundwork for future advancements in UBCTD, which could redefine global oil and gas production methods.”
Central to Baker Hughes’ UBCTD capabilities is its industry-leading CoilTrak™ bottomhole assembly (BHA) system, combined with enhanced subsurface insights from its GaffneyCline™ energy advisory services. This powerful combination enables operators to navigate complex reservoir conditions during horizontal and re-entry drilling with improved precision and control. Through this integration of advanced hardware and data-driven analytics, Baker Hughes will optimize drilling performance, reduce formation damage, and enhance operational safety — all while minimizing project timelines and costs compared to traditional drilling methods.
The agreement underscores Baker Hughes’ longstanding presence and proven operational excellence in Saudi Arabia’s energy sector. Since its entry into the UBCTD market in 2008, the company has built a strong reputation for maintaining exemplary health, safety, and environmental (HSE) standards, consistently delivering high performance through its existing four UBCTD units in the Kingdom.
With this expansion, Baker Hughes reaffirms its commitment to supporting Saudi Arabia’s broader energy transition goals and technological advancement in gas development. Operations under the new contract are scheduled to begin in 2026, marking the next chapter in a partnership that continues to drive innovation and efficiency in the global energy landscape.
