MEIL-made India’s first indigenous hydraulic rig begins ops

08 Apr 2021 Editorial Team

MEIL secured an order from ONGC in a tendering process in 2019 to manufacture and supply 47 drilling rigs worth Rs 6,000 crore. MEIL has now deployed the first of those rigs of this order in an oil field near Ahmedabad and successfully commenced the operations. The remaining 46 rigs are in various stages of manufacturing. Of these rigs, 20 are work-over rigs, and 27 are land drilling rigs.

The work-over rigs are used to extract the deposits from already drilled oil wells and enhance productivity and repair the well. Ordinary oil rigs do not serve this purpose. The state-of-the-art land drilling rigs drill deep into the layer of earth to existing oil reserves. These rigs can dig to depths between 1,500 m and 6,000 m, as against regular rigs that can dig up to 1,000 m. Twelve of the 20 work-over rigs are automated with a capacity of 50 MT, four are 100 MT capacity, and the remaining four are 150 MT capacity rigs.

Of the 27 land drilling rigs, two are mobile hydraulic rigs with a capacity of 1,500 HP each, while 17 have a capacity each of 1,500 HP AC VFD. The other six rigs are of 2,000 HP capacity each.

Two MEIL-designed rigs, with a capacity of 2,000 HP each, can drill up to 6,000 m. This is the first time rigs with that capability have been produced in India.

The 1,500 HP capacity rigs can easily drill oil wells to a depth of 4,000 m, the company stated. “The rig drills oil wells faster and operates with minimal power, and manufactured with state-of-the-art hydraulic and automated technology,” P Rajesh Reddy, VP, MEIL, told CW. “The rigs can work for the next 40 years.”

Of the 46 rigs currently under manufacturing, two rigs are in the assembly stage in the Rajahmundry oil field in Andhra Pradesh. MEIL will supply the rest to ONGC-related oil fields in Assam, Tripura and Tamil Nadu.

Image courtesy: MEIL

Hyderabad-based Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Limited (MEIL) achieved a milestone by manufacturing rigs for the oil and gas industry with indigenous know-how. The first of the rigs designed with advanced hydraulic technology began operations in the KLDDX oil well in Kalol oil field near Ahmedabad on Monday. MEIL secured an order from ONGC in a tendering process in 2019 to manufacture and supply 47 drilling rigs worth Rs 6,000 crore. MEIL has now deployed the first of those rigs of this order in an oil field near Ahmedabad and successfully commenced the operations. The remaining 46 rigs are in various stages of manufacturing. Of these rigs, 20 are work-over rigs, and 27 are land drilling rigs. The work-over rigs are used to extract the deposits from already drilled oil wells and enhance productivity and repair the well. Ordinary oil rigs do not serve this purpose. The state-of-the-art land drilling rigs drill deep into the layer of earth to existing oil reserves. These rigs can dig to depths between 1,500 m and 6,000 m, as against regular rigs that can dig up to 1,000 m. Twelve of the 20 work-over rigs are automated with a capacity of 50 MT, four are 100 MT capacity, and the remaining four are 150 MT capacity rigs. Of the 27 land drilling rigs, two are mobile hydraulic rigs with a capacity of 1,500 HP each, while 17 have a capacity each of 1,500 HP AC VFD. The other six rigs are of 2,000 HP capacity each. Two MEIL-designed rigs, with a capacity of 2,000 HP each, can drill up to 6,000 m. This is the first time rigs with that capability have been produced in India. The 1,500 HP capacity rigs can easily drill oil wells to a depth of 4,000 m, the company stated. “The rig drills oil wells faster and operates with minimal power, and manufactured with state-of-the-art hydraulic and automated technology,” P Rajesh Reddy, VP, MEIL, told CW. “The rigs can work for the next 40 years.” Of the 46 rigs currently under manufacturing, two rigs are in the assembly stage in the Rajahmundry oil field in Andhra Pradesh. MEIL will supply the rest to ONGC-related oil fields in Assam, Tripura and Tamil Nadu. Image courtesy: MEIL

Infrastructure Transport

11 May 2026

Shivraj Chouhan Launches PMGSY IV and Announces Package for Madhya Pradesh

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) IV at Bhairunda in Sehore district during the 25 year celebrations and announced a development package for Madhya Pradesh. The programme was organised by the Union Ministry of Rural Development and attended by Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav, ministers of state, state ministers, legislators and senior officials from the centre and the state. The minister said the central government under the Prime Minister is committed to strengthening rural livelihoods through improved connectivity, housing and women's in..

Infrastructure Urban

11 May 2026

DMR Engineering Reports FY 25-26 Financial Results

DMR Engineering reported its half year results for the financial year ended 31 March 2026 and published full year figures on a standalone basis. Standalone revenue from operations decreased by 2.01 per cent year-over-year to Rs 102.58 million (mn), while profit after tax declined by 43.94 per cent to nine point five six mn, leaving a profit after tax margin of nine point zero five per cent. Earnings per share stood at Rs zero point nine two, a fall of 44.71 per cent year-over-year. The company attributed part of the decline to one-off provisioning for bad debts and additional financing charges..

Infrastructure Urban

11 May 2026

Atlanta Electricals Posts Strong FY26 Growth And Debt Free Finish

Atlanta Electricals reported audited consolidated results for the quarter and year ended 31 March 2026. The company recorded significant year-on-year revenue growth driven by capacity ramp-up at new facilities and higher utilisation at legacy plants. The announcement summarised operating improvements and strategic milestones achieved during the year. For Q4 the company reported revenue of Rs 7.48 bn and for FY26 revenue of Rs 18.52 bn, representing robust growth versus the prior year. EBITDA in Q4 was Rs. 1.49 bn and Rs. 3.44 bn for the full year, with margins expanding to 20 per cent in the q..