Awilco Exercises Option for Jackup Drilling Rig No. 8

Awilco Offshore (AWO) has exercised an option with PPL to build a 375-ft. jackup drilling rig with drilling depth of 30.000 ft. The rig will be named WilConfidence. The rig is to be delivered in the second quarter of 2009, and has a delivered cost of $149m. The delivered cost includes contract price with the yard, site supervision, pipe handling equipment, spare parts and finance costs during construction.