Statoil Signs CapRock to Equip New Drillship with VSAT Communications

CapRock increases support capabilities for Statoil’s offshore operations

ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND and HOUSTON, TEXAS - November 18, 2009

CapRock Communications, a leading provider of global communications to remote environments, today announced a long-term agreement with Statoil to provide satellite communications to a new drillship. Norwegian-based Statoil, a premier international energy company focused on upstream oil and gas operations, will use the services to support its onboard crew for the duration of its drilling campaign in the Gulf of Mexico.

While operating in some of the deepest waters hundreds of miles offshore, a reliable communications solution is critical to maintaining peak performance conditions as well as connectivity with those back onshore. CapRock’s fully managed VSAT solution – complete with network design, equipment and installation and 24/7 network monitoring and management – will enable Statoil’s onboard personnel to experience voice and data communications similar to the corporate office. Crew members will be able to share data with onshore experts – enabling them to collaborate and make real-time decisions necessary for operations to continue running smoothly.

And with CapRock backhauling the communications traffic to some of the client’s shore-based locations, Statoil experts will be able to remotely manage some of the offshore operations from their desks which will considerably lower travel costs – a benefit every company can appreciate.
“Statoil demonstrates a level of excellence in its drilling operations and we are honored to have been selected to meet that same level of excellence with our communication services,” said CapRock Vice President and Managing Director, EMEA, Eduardo Correa. “This award is testament to CapRock’s proven track record of reliability and quality of service, and we look forward to further broadening our relationship with Statoil.”

About CapRock Communications

With nearly three decades of experience, CapRock Communications is a premier global satellite communications provider for the energy, maritime, government, engineering and construction andmining industries as well as for disaster recovery services. The Company utilizes the latest field-proven satellite technologies to deliver highly reliable managed communication services including broadband Internet, voice over IP, secure networking and real-time video to the world's harshest and most remote locations. CapRock delivers on its promise to be the market's reliability leader by leveraging "best of breed" partnerships, technical expertise and a robust global infrastructure that includes four self-owned and operated teleports and eleven regional support centers across the U.S., Central and South America, Europe, West Africa and Asia Pacific. More information about CapRock is available at www.caprock.com.

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