RusEnergy

27 August 2007 - Upstream OnLine - By Vladimir Afanasiev - BP's Russian vehicle TNK-BP has shortlisted 17 Russian oilfield service companies and one international player for a series of tenders for the long-term provision of well workover services. Winners will also have to provide up to 300 workover rigs for TNK-BP's upstream operations across Russia, the company said in the statement. Contract terms will be for three years with options to extend by up to two further years. TNK-BP added that this is the first time such long-term workover contracts have been tendered in the Russian play. The total value of all the jobs up for grabs under the tender could reach $1.3 billion. Contractors selected by TNK-BP from the short list, will be notified in early November with a view to rigs and crews being in place from January. No outsiders can now enter into the group of shortlisted bidders so the TNK-BP's announcement has been only made to underline the company's ongoing shift from short-term to long-term oilfield service agreements. At the end of July, TNK-BP made a similar announcement of "postfactum" tenders, after having shortlisted more than 20 Russian and western companies for the long-term supply of up to 60 dedicated drilling rigs to the company.