STEP Offshore, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aker Solutions, has won a contract from Awilco Drilling Limited to engineer and deliver mud mixing and solids control systems to the Arctic II rig. STEP Offshore estimates that the value of the work will be approximately NOK 12 million.

The contract involves major upgrades and additions to the mud mixing and solids control equipment, and will make the Arctic II capable of operating at the leading edge, both with regards to drilling efficiency and HSE.

"We are very proud to be awarded this contract by Awilco Drilling Limited," says Pål Eriksen, president of STEP Offshore. "It once again proves we are the preferred partner for critical drilling fluid management applications."

All the equipment deliveries and upgrade work will take place while the rig is going through major upgrades at Remontowa ship yard in Gdansk, Poland.

The project has started, and will be completed in Q1 2011.

Tags: Aker Solutions, Awilco Offshore