Date: 6 January 2009

Ability Drilling buys back debt

Ability Drilling has repurchased NOK  118 million of the  outstanding
bonds loans. The repurchase  was completed at a  discount of 53 %  on
average. Isolated, this buyback of debt will provide a gain of NOK 63
million in Q4 2008.

Following the repurchase, the total outstanding bond loans have  been
reduced to  NOK  303  million.  As per  30  September  2008,  Ability
Drilling had NOK 314 million of cash and cash equivalents.

Hans Petter  Eikeland,  CEO  in  Ability  Drilling,  commented:  "The
repurchase of debt means  significant lower financial expenses  going
forward, but not changed future investment schedule."

For further information, please contact:

CEO Hans Petter Eikeland, phone +47 56 32 43 43, or +47 93 20 81 77

About Ability Drilling ASA: Ability Drilling aims to become the
preferred operator and provider of Rack & Pinion (R&P) rigs in its
defined core markets, by combining fourth generation drilling
technology with outstanding drilling experience from offshore North
Sea exploration and production activities.

The Company currently targets onshore oil operations in the MENA
(Middle East North Africa) market, the geothermal market in Europe,
as well as the market for drilling of LNG reservoirs. Both the land
rig market in MENA and the geothermal segment in Europe are markets
with strong growth and significant potential, while the market for
drilling of LNG reservoirs is an emerging growth segment. Ability
Drilling targets extension of the geographical footprint within all
current focus areas.

Ability Drilling has so far ordered 11 rigs, of which 9 land rigs,
one 150 T workover rig and one 150 T Ultra Light Drilling Rig. In
addition, the company has options with construction partner TTS Sense
for 33 additional land rigs and 40 additional workover rigs.

Ability Drilling is listed on Oslo Axess, with ticker ADRL.


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