SDRL - New CFO appointed in Seadrill

Hamilton, Bermuda, April 8, 2010 - Esa Ikäheimonen has been appointed Chief

Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of Seadrill Management AS. He

currently serves as Executive Vice President and CFO of Pöyry PLC, a global

consulting and engineering company with head office in Finland.

Prior to joining Pöyry in early 2009, Mr Ikäheimonen served with Royal Dutch

Shell for almost 20 years. At Shell, he held several senior positions as

Regional Vice President Finance for Upstream in both Africa and the Middle-East,

Finance and Commercial Director in Qatar and Downstream Finance Director for

Scandinavia. He also has an extensive M&A experience through acting as a

Portfolio Manager for Oil Products Europe. Mr Ikäheimonen holds a Master degree

in Law from the University of Turku in Finland.

Alf C Thorkildsen, Chief Executive Officer in Seadrill Management AS says, "We

are very pleased to have Esa Ikäheimonen joining our team. His extensive

international oil and gas industry experience as well as his broad financial

skills will strengthen our ability to grow the Company further".

Esa Ikäheimonen will join the Company during second half of 2010. He is a

Finnish citizen, 45 years of age, married with three children.

In connection with his appointment, Mr Ikäheimonen has been awarded 150,000

options with five years maturity to acquire shares in Seadrill at strike price

of NOK137.4 per share. The options vest equally over a three year period.

This information is subject of the disclosure requirements acc. to §5-12 vphl

(Norwegian Securities Trading Act)

[HUG#1401409]

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