"This is an important project for Aker Solutions and of strategic importance for our position in the drilling upgrade market. We are very pleased to demonstrate that we are well positioned for this emerging market. This project falls solidly within our core competence," says Stian Vemmestad, president of the maintenance and modification hub in Aker Solutions.

Scope of work for the FEED study includes new equipment to increase drilling capacity and modification of existing installations offshore. The study will consider the possibility to upgrade the drilling capacity to reach 10 kilometers, including heavy lifting to install a new derrick. The FEED will also include improvement of environment, health and safety (HSE) upgrading for the equipment to be better suited for the increased longitude. The object is to install top modern equipment and automated offshore installation.

Work under the contract starts immediately and the FEED will be completed in April 2010.

The FEED Study will be performed by the Aker Solutions' drilling equipment business hub in Kristiansand together with the company's centre of maintenance and modification expertise based in Bergen. The contract party is Aker Solutions' subsidiary Aker Offshore Partner AS.

In March, Aker Solutions was awarded the engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) contract for upgrading the drilling facilities on the Oseberg B platform. This was the first significant drilling upgrade contract to be awarded on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.

For further information, please contact:

Mariken Holter, VP Communications, Aker Solutions. Tel: +47 67 52 74 35, Mob: +47 917 87 358

Investor relations:
Lasse Torkildsen, SVP Investor Relations, Aker Solutions. Tel: +47 67 51 30 39, Mob: +47 911 37 194

Suppliers:
For further information about sourcing and potential subcontracts for this project, please contact the relevant BA Global Sourcing Champion.

Career opportunities:
Visit http://www.akersolutions.com/careers

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 23 000 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. As an industrial owner controlling 40.27 percent of the shares in Aker Solutions through Aker Holding AS, Aker ASA takes an active role in the development of Aker Solutions.  

This press release may include forward-looking information or statements and is subject to our disclaimer, see www.akersolutions.com.