1996-1998

• • Caspian Drilling Company Ltd. (CDC) was established on September 5, 1996 as a joint venture between the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) (55%) and Santa Fe Inc. (USA) (45%).
• • The company was founded based on the legacy and technical expertise of the world-renowned USSR Offshore Exploration Drilling Company (OEDC), to conduct offshore drilling operations in the Caspian Sea region and support the implementation of the Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs) in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea.
• • As part of the national Oil Strategy led by the National Leader of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev, CDC commissioned two semi-submersible drilling rigs - Dada Gorgud (launched on August 24, 1996) and Istiglal (launched on September 2, 1998).
• • President Heydar Aliyev personally attended the inauguration ceremonies of both rigs.
• • CDC is registered as an Azerbaijani legal entity and operates in full compliance with international standards, employing a multinational workforce.
• • The Company contributed significantly to verifying seismic exploration results through drilling and has drilled development wells from subsea templates.

2009

• • On June 30, 2009, CDC acquired the remaining 45% stake from Santa Fe Inc., making SOCAR the majority shareholder with a 92.44% ownership.

2011

• • CDC embarked on a new project in Israel, marking a significant step in Azerbaijan's international energy expansion. CDC - acting as a subsidiary of SOCAR - acquired a 5% stake in the Med Ashdod offshore oil field, located about 16 kilometres off Israel's Mediterranean coast. This was SOCAR's and CDC's first oil production and drilling operation outside the Caspian Basin. CDC partnered with Shemen Oil & Gas Resources, and the project was seen as a strategic move to gain international offshore experience and enhance Azerbaijan's global energy profile.
• • April 2011, CDC achieved ISO 9001 Quality Management System Certification from DNV (Det Norske Veritas). The certification covers the management of offshore drilling operations, including engineering, maintenance, equipment, and personnel management.

2013

• • The construction of the Heydar Aliyev semi-submersible drilling rig marked a pivotal chapter in Azerbaijan's energy journey. Led by Caspian Drilling Company in partnership with Keppel Offshore & Marine and the Baku Shipyard, the project represented a major advancement in the nation's offshore capabilities. Officially launched in June 2013, the rig not only bears the name of Azerbaijan's national leader but also symbolizes the country's rise as a formidable force in deepwater drilling technology. As the first sixth-generation rig built predominantly on Azerbaijani soil, its creation was a remarkable fusion of engineering excellence, bold ambition, and national pride.
• • The project was a massive undertaking:
  • • Over 2,400 workers contributed, with 80% being Azerbaijani citizens
  • • It was completed in May 2017, marking a major milestone in Azerbaijan's offshore drilling capabilities

2018

• • MV Fatih is a sixth-generation ultra-deepwater drillship operated by CDC on behalf of its owner, Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPOA). The CDC project team reactivated the vessel and, once commissioned, started the first drilling operation in the Mediterranean Sea.
• • The Heydar Aliyev semi-submersible drilling rig commenced operations with TOTAL at the Absheron Field with a 2-year contract, then moved across to BP, supporting their Shafag-Asiman field.

2019

• • The Satti jack-up rig, Kazakhstan's first domestically-built offshore drilling platform, was delivered to CDC in 2019 to operate in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea.
• • In a strategic partnership between KMG Drilling & Services LLP (Kazakhstan) and Caspian Drilling Company (CDC, Azerbaijan), the rig underwent a significant upgrade at CDC's Marine and Logistics Base in Baku, completed in June 2021.
• • This enhanced its bearing capacity from 453 to 680 tons, enabling it to drill wells over 6,000 meters deep.

2021

• • The Satti jack-up rig Drilling Commencement: On August 9, 2021, the rig set sail for its first drilling operation in the SWAP area for BP.
• • The first well was spudded in the North Khali prospect on August 16, 2021.
• • Exploration Goal: The drilling aims to evaluate the potential of unexplored offshore blocks.
• • This collaboration marked a significant step in regional energy development, combining expertise from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and BP.

2022

• • The Dada Gorgud semi-submersible drilling rig commenced the offshore drilling operations in Kazakhstan's sector of the Caspian Sea, particularly in the Zhenis block.
• • This project is a joint venture between KazMunayGas (Kazakhstan) and Lukoil (Russia). This project marked a significant milestone in regional energy cooperation between Kazakhstan, Russia, and Azerbaijan. This also demonstrates the technical and logistical capabilities of Caspian nations to conduct complex offshore drilling operations without relying on external infrastructure.

2023

• • The 'CDC Goodway', a 29m x 9m Catamaran Crew Boat (50 person), was introduced to transfer personnel to the rigs for future rig reactivations, upgrades, and shipyard maintenance periods.

2024

• • The Maersk Explorer semi-submersible drilling rig was handed over to CDC on April 26, 2024, as part of a strategic agreement between Maersk Drilling and SOCAR/CDC to support Azerbaijan's expanding offshore operations.
• • Reactivation commenced by the CDC project team with a planned completion by the end of 2025.
• • The rig was renamed 'Garabagh' in July 2024.
• • The Garabagh will support the development of the Karabagh (Garabagh) oil field.

2025

• • The Istiglal semi-submersible drilling continues the deepwater gas drilling, particularly in support of the BP Shah Deniz field and other non-associated gas (NAG) developments.
• • The Heydar Aliyev semi-submersible drilling rig continues to support the development of drilling in the BP ACG fields, contributing to both oil and gas production.
• • The Garabagh semi-submersible drilling rig continues its reactivation and, when operational, will support the development of the Karabagh (Garabagh) oil field.
• • The Dada Gorgud semi-submersible drilling rig remains in cold stack and is currently under review for reactivation for future drilling operations.