The document discusses the launch of a new offshore drilling rig, Al Hudairiyat, by National Drilling Company (NDC) in the United Arab Emirates. NDC is building nine jack-up rigs to support oil and gas exploration and production for Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. The new rig brings the total number of rigs built by NDC and Lamprell, its manufacturing partner, to eight. It also discusses rising US shale drilling as oil prices remain above $50 per barrel due to OPEC production cuts. Drilling activity is increasing most in the Permian Basin and Oklahoma plays.