KCA DEUTAG, the leading international drilling and engineering contractor, has won a significant competitive tender for new drilling contracts from the international energy company Statoil. The contracts awarded are to provide drilling operations, maintenance services and engineering support for the Gullfaks and Oseberg fields, totaling seven platform drilling rigs, on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.

The contract is for an initial period of four years with the option to extend by three further periods of two years each. Total revenue for the initial contract period is estimated to be in excess of 700 MUSD, not including possible options.

KCA DEUTAG also operates the Kvitebjørn platform drilling rig for Statoil. Today’s contractawards extend a long standing and productive working relationship with Statoil that spans almost 30 years.

Rune Lorentzen, the KCA DEUTAG Senior Vice President for Platforms commented: “These awards recognise our efforts to deliver continuous improvement and value for Statoil. Our vision is to be the preferred drilling contractor through measurable performance improvement and providing safe effective and trouble-free operations. I believe that through these awards we have cemented our position in the North Sea as the leading platform drilling contractor.”

Paul Horne, KCA DEUTAG’s Country Manager – Norway, said: “I look upon this award as a vote of confidence and an acknowledgement of the success of our previous drilling services provision for Statoil”