Offshore staff

(Denmark & US) - Hydril Co. has received a purchase order for two deepwater drilling blowout prevention and control systems from AP Moller - Maersk A/S.

Hydril will supply blowout preventer stacks, multiplex control systems, and additional equipment for two ultra deepwater development semisubmersible drilling rigs.

The company has also received orders for five blowout prevention and control systems for jackup drilling rigs from a different customer.

Deliveries for these combined orders will begin in 3Q 2006 and continue into mid-year 2008. These combined orders have increased the company's pressure control capital equipment backlog by approximately $60 million.

Chris Seaver, president and CEO of Hydril, says, "Maersk is a highly valued new customer, and we appreciate their confidence in Hydril's ability to provide this technologically sophisticated equipment for their state-of-the-art ultra deepwater development semisubmersible rigs, which have been designed to improve drilling efficiencies and offer lower-cost development solutions.

"Their order reaffirms Hydril's leading position in the technically challenging deepwater arena and represents the largest single order Hydril has ever received."

Hydril, headquartered in Houston, is engaged worldwide in engineering, manufacturing and marketing connections and pressure control products used for oil and gas drilling and production.

11/22/05