Maersk Drilling has been awarded a contract extension for the ultra-deepwater drillship Maersk Viking, by oil major ExxonMobil. The estimated value of the contract extension is USD 22.5m, with a duration of 150 days.

Maersk Viking has been operating for ExxonMobil on the Julia field in the US Gulf of Mexico since delivery from the Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) shipyard in 2014. The original contract was scheduled to end in July 2017. With the extension, Maersk Viking will now be in operation for ExxonMobil until December 2017.

“I’m truly pleased on behalf of the crew on board the Maersk Viking and the entire organisation that we have been able to secure an extension of the contract with ExxonMobil. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with customers through a difficult period for the entire industry,” says Michael Reimer Mortensen, Vice President and Head of Global Sales in Maersk Drilling and continues,

“It is evident that we are now looking at a day rate much lower than the original contract, reflecting the current market situation. However, Maersk Drilling has significantly lowered cost levels across the fleet in the past years, enabling us to operate just as efficiently in this new environment. Our first priority is to add value to our customers and their operations, and we will work closely with them to ensure the delivery of safe and efficient operations.”

About Maersk Drilling

Maersk Drilling’s modern fleet counts 24 drilling rigs including drillships, deepwater semi-submersibles and high-end jack-up rigs. Maersk Drilling employs an international staff of 3,200 people and generated an underlying profit of USD 743m in 2016.

About ExxonMobil

ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM), the largest publicly traded international oil and gas company, uses technology and innovation to help meet the world’s growing energy needs. ExxonMobil holds an industry-leading inventory of resources, is one of the largest refiners and marketers of petroleum products, and its chemical company is one of the largest in the world.