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Aker Solutions ASA 17 June 2008 - Aker Solutions today officially opens Brazil's only manufacturing centre for deepwater marine drilling risers. Located in Rio das Ostras, on the east coast of Brazil, the unit is ideally positioned to serve the fast-growing Brazilian oil industry and capitalise on the boom in the global rig market.
The new facility has seen an investment of BRL 22 million and will primarily manufacture for the Brazilian market, but will also be able to deliver to other regions of the world. The facility, which has a workshop that covers a space of 2,450 square metres, will offer clients services ranging from engineering and manufacturing to maintenance and technical support.
"The global rig market is extremely buoyant, and the amount of contracted new build drilling units is likely to remain at a stable high level over the next five to seven years, at least," says Raymond Carlsen, executive vice president, Aker Solutions. "The recent announcement from Petrobras, who has extremely ambitious plans within this area, confirms that the timing of our Rio das Ostras investment was right. We are hopeful that we can become a part of those plans and thereby help to contribute further towards the economic growth of the region. Our marine drilling riser system is developed to cover all deepwater needs, which is a good fit for the many deepwater field developments offshore Brazil," adds Carlsen.
The inauguration of the drilling riser facility base reflects Aker Solutions' commitment to the development of the Brazilian oil and gas industry. The company already has a manufacturing facility for subsea trees and other subsea equipment in Curitiba, as well as a subsea aftermarket base in Rio das Ostras.
With the opening of the new manufacturing base for drilling risers Aker Solutions has created a further 60 jobs, in addition to 130 positions already filled.
"To grow the company and create more jobs is extremely satisfying. Additionally, the development of local suppliers is also a goal to us. Several suppliers in the region and state of Rio de Janeiro were qualified to provide specific services such as painting, machining and surface treatment necessary in production of our drilling riser systems," says Marcelo Taulois, president of Aker Solutions' subsea business area in Brazil.
"Aker Solutions has a goal of being a 'preferred neighbour' everywhere we operate, and this vision has also been an integral part of the strategy for the new Rio das Ostras facility," adds Taulois.
The deepwater marine drilling riser systems manufactured at Rio das Ostras are all of the Clip Connector technology, which is exclusive to Aker Solutions. This technology offers significant time savings when connecting the riser joints, thereby offering rig operators significant reduction in costs from both reduced manpower and rig operations.
The first operations at the Rio das Ostras drilling riser facility started up in January this year. Current projects being undertaken at the facility is designed to supply deepwater marine drilling riser systems to Brazilian company Queiroz Galvão Oil and Gas, comprising the rig Olinda Star, which will operate in water depths up to 1,100 meters; the Gold Star, which will operate at depths up to 2,000 meters; and the Lone Star, which is capable of operating in water depths up to 2,400 meters.
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Media: Marcelo Taulois, president Aker Solutions' subsea business area in Brasil, + 55 (41) 3227-8402. Fernanda Bacelar, communication officer, Aker Solutions in Brazil, + 55 (41) 3227-8466 Endre Johansen, communications manager, Aker Solutions, +47 22 94 58 91, Mob: +47 416 10 605, E-mail: endre.johansen@akersolutions.com
Aker Solutions ASA, through its subsidiaries and affiliates ("Aker Solutions"), is a leading global provider of engineering and construction services, technology products and integrated solutions. Aker Solutions' business serves several industries, including oil &gas, refining & chemicals, mining & metals and power generation. The Aker Solutions group is organised in a number of separate legal entities. Aker Solutions is used as the common brand/trademark for most of these entities.
Aker Solutions' parent company is Aker Solutions ASA. Aker Solutions has aggregated annual revenues of approximately NOK 58 billion and employs approximately 24 000 people in about 30 countries.
Aker Solutions is part of Aker (www.akerasa.com), a group of premier companies with a focus on energy, maritime and marine resource industries. The Aker companies share a common set of values and a long tradition of industrial innovation. Through its majority-owned holding company Aker Holding AS, Aker controls 40.27 percent of the shares in Aker Solutions, and takes an active role in the development of the company.
This press release may include forward-looking information or statements and is subject to our disclaimer, see www.akersolutions.com.
