Songa Equinox has commenced drilling operations under its eight-year drilling contract with Statoil at the Troll Field on the Norwegian continental shelf, and the rig is now on operating rate. Songa Equinox is the first rig in a series of four Category D semi-submersible drilling rigs, specifically built for and contracted to Statoil.

"The start of drilling operations for Songa Equinox is another milestone in the Cat D project. Our organization is looking forward to working collaboratively with Statoil over the next eight years", says Songa Offshore's CEO, Bjørnar Iversen.

About Songa Offshore

Songa Offshore is an International Midwater Drilling Contractor with a strong presence in the harsh environment North Atlantic basin. Its fleet is growing and it will soon be a dominant contractor in Norway, where it will soon have a fleet of 7 midwater semisubmersibles and hold position as Statoil's largest drilling services provider.

About Statoil

Statoil ASA (OSE: STL, NYSE: STO) is an international energy company with operations in 36 countries. Building on 40 years of experience from oil and gas production on the Norwegian continental shelf, we are committed to accommodating the world's energy needs in a responsible manner, applying technology and creating innovative business solutions. We are headquartered in Stavanger, Norway, with approximately 23,000 employees worldwide, and are listed on the Oslo and New York stock exchanges.