Prosafe Q2 profit tops forecast, market strong

OSLO, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Norwegian oilfield services group Prosafe (PRSO.OL) reported a bigger-than-expected rise in operating profit for the second quarter on Thursday and said the fundamentals of its rig markets remain strong.

Earnings before interest and tax rose to $63.4 million in the three months to the end of June from $38.5 million in the same quarter a year earlier, Prosafe said.

The result beat an average expectation of a rise to $60 million in a Reuters survey of six analysts whose estimates ranged from $46 million to $66 million.

Prosafe has a fleet of service and accommodation rigs after spinning off its floating oil production business this year.

"The drivers in the accommodation market remain very positive," Prosafe ASA said in a statement.

"Within the harsh and semi-harsh environments, where Prosafe's accommodation rigs operate, there is a tight supply-demand balance and the number of newbuilds to be delivered over the next few years is limited," it said.

(Reporting by John Acher)