Aker Solutions Building Brazil Service Site

Aker Solutions to build a new multi-purpose service site for its drilling equipment business in Brazil

The US$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.

The 335 000m2 facility in Macaé (180 kn NE of Rio de Janeiro) 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.

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 state-of-the-art training centre with capacity for up to four of Aker Solutions' market-leading drilling simulators. The company today has two state-of-the-art dome training simulators in operation, offering customers training support to improve the safety and efficiency of drilling operations.

Aker Solutions has supported drilling operators locally with equipment, systems and services since the 1990s. Today, more than 35 drills ships and rigs operate in Brazilian waters, using drilling equipment from Aker Solutions.

Work to preparing the land has already started and the site is scheduled to be fully operational in early 2014.