Aker Oilfield Services launches marketing initiative with Expro

Aker Oilfield Services Ltd has signed a letter of intent with ExproInternational Group Plc ("Expro") to jointly market its state of theart fleet of well intervention vessels together with Expro'spropriety AX-S riserless well intervention technology.

The two companies intend to develop a global alliance that willenable customers to benefit from the combined capabilities of AkerOilfield Services and Expro's AX-S solution in a seamless, integratedand fully aligned manner. Aker Oilfield Services already hasestablished partnerships with Aker Kvaerner Well Service, AkerKvaerner Subsea and DOF Subsea, and the alliance with Expro ensuresthat the company has access to additional technology and servicesrequired to solve the customer's deepwater subsea challenges.

The terms of the agreement, which have yet to be finalised, aim tocombine Aker Oilfield Services' fleet of subsea intervention vesselsand its extensive knowledge of subsea operations with Expro's AX-Swell intervention technology.

Per-Ola Baalerud, CEO of Aker Oilfield Services:

"Aker Oilfield Services has developed its well intervention serviceoffering in close dialogue with potential customers, partners andthird party suppliers since the company was established in 2006. Theletter of intent with Expro comes as a result of a thoroughevaluation of the available and planned technologies for deepwatersubsea wireline intervention - supported by valuable operationalexperience gained by our partners over the last few years. Expro'sAX-S technology complements our existing technology portfolio whichhas been focused on the heavier segment of the well interventionbusiness - offering fully integrated wireline- and coiled tubingservices together with our partner Aker Kvaerner."

Graeme Coutts, CEO of Expro International Group Plc:

"Expro is recognised for innovation and quality in the importantmarket segment for subsea technology. The AX-S rigless interventionsystem, which is currently under development, is recognised as havingthe potential to greatly assist our customers as they strive toreduce deepwater project costs and recover additional reserves fromtheir assets. Today's announcement marks a further step towardscommercialisation of AX-S and sends a clear message to our customersthat Expro and Aker Oilfield Services are jointly focused ondelivering step-change performance and complete solutions to theirsubsea challenges."

Aker Oilfield Services was established in 2006 to meet the rapidlygrowing demand for services in the subsea development and productionmarkets. Aker Oilfield Services is building up a fleet of subseaintervention vessels to meet strong market demand, with up to sixstate-of-the-art vessels to be delivered from 2009. The company isbased in Oslo and owned by Aker ASA, DOF Subsea and Aker KvaernerASA.

For further information please contact:Per-Ola Baalerud, CEO Aker Oilfield Services: +47 959 09 999Geir Arne Drangeid, Aker ASA: +47 913 10 458