* Q2 operating profit $339 million vs $320 million forecast
* Expects listing on New York Stock Exchange in Q1 2010
* Seeking alliances for potential spin-off of jack-up rigs
* Sees solid earnings development, limited dividend in H2
(Adds details, quotes, shares)
OSLO, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Norwegian oil rig company Seadrill reported a bigger-than-expected rise in second-quarter operating profit on Thursday and said it was seeking to list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange next year.
"As alluded to in the second quarter report last year and in response to the growth of the company, the board has decided to seek a U.S. listing," Seadrill said in a statement. It said it was targeting the listing in the first quarter of 2010.
Operating profit rose in the three months to end-June to $339 million from $212 million a year ago, with the increase mainly due to a full quarter in operation for four new rigs as well as improved overall utilization.
Estimates ranged between $253 million and $377 million, with an average of $320 million.
Seadrill said it planned to reinstate a limited cash dividend in the second half 2009 and a "solid stable long-term dividend" in 2010.
The company, controlled by Norwegian shipping tycoon John Fredriksen, said it was very confident in its outlook and expected a solid development in earnings over coming quarters.
"The results for the third quarter 2009 will confirm this trend," Seadrill said.
Seadrill shares closed down 1.5 percent at 105.30 crowns before the results, valuing the Bermuda-registered company at about $6.9 billion.
"We continue to believe that the deepwater market, especially in Brazil and West Africa, offers good prospects," Seadrill Chief Executive Alf Thorkildsen told a conference call.
Seadrill said it had decided to focus the company around modern deepwater operations and would seek alliances to establish a separate and larger stand-alone company for jack-up rigs, that operate in shallow water. (Reporting by Richard Solem and Joergen Frich; Editing by David Holmes)