Aker Solutions to invest in Brazilian drilling equipment facilities

Aker Solutions is building a new multi-purpose service site for its drilling equipment business in Brazil, significantly expanding its capacity to serve the country's fast-growing drilling market. The $100 million development will also include substantial production, assembly and testing capacity, to provide local content to support the country's large drilling rig-building programme.

Brazil is a major growth area for the international oil and gas companies; since the country was opened up to foreign investment in 2003 after the government ended the state monopoly on oil and gas exploration, 36 companies have entered the upstream market there.

The 335,000 m² facility in Macaé on Brazil's east coast is about 8 times bigger than Aker Solutions' current facility in nearby Rio das Ostras, reflecting expected growth in the company's activities in the country.

"Our investments in Brazil demonstrate our ambitions to grow in one of the most exciting offshore markets in the world, and our commitment to contribute to and develop the country's oil and gas industry. Aker Solutions' commitment to local content in Brazil is second to none," says Luis Antonio Araujo, Regional President for Aker Solutions in Brazil.

The new Macaé facility will host full drilling riser production and maintenance services. This includes about 20 000 m2 of indoor mechanical workshop space for riser and topside equipment, with full crane and testing capabilities.

The site will also include a training centre with capacity for up to four of Aker Solutions' market-leading drilling simulators.

Adapted from press release by Peter Farrell.

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/drilling-and-production/22062012/aker-solutions-to-build-new-drilling-equipment-servicing-site/