Iran is preparing for the post-sanctions era by expanding its industrial and technical capabilities in all sectors including the petroleum industry. Like wise the Iranian Central Oil Fields Company (ICOFC) has boosted its drilling capabilities and has set new records in the field. The ICOFC director of technical affairs says the company has enhanced its drilling capabilities and has reduced the number of days needed for installation of an oil rig by at least 1,500 days. Ahmad Rajabi told Shana that ICOFC used to spend nearly 2,000 days for installation of an oil rig in 2013 which has diminished to 490 days. 60% of ICOFCs activities concern drilling operations, he said. He further said the company has drilled 18.6 meters of wells on a daily basis during the past 9 months. ICOFC currently operates 12 drilling rigs and does not have any plans for expansion of its operations, Rajabi added. Iranian Central Oil Fields Company is one of the five major oil and gas companies under NIOC (National Iranian Oil Company) with three subsidiaries (South Zagros Oil and Gas Company< East Oil and Gas Company and West Oil and Gas Company).