Maersk Drilling has signed a contract with Talisman Energy Norge for the ultra-harsh environment jack-up Mærsk Giant for drilling operations in the Norwegian North Sea. The duration of the contract is one year, and Talisman Energy Norge has options to extend the contract up to a total of three years. The contract is expected to commence in mid-third quarter 2014. The estimated value of the firm contract (one year) is USD 137 million.

“We are very pleased to enter into this agreement with Talisman Energy Norge, which is a highly valued customer of Maersk Drilling. Norway remains a focus area for Maersk Drilling and the award confirms our strong position with the customers in the Norwegian market,” says Claus V. Hemmingsen, CEO of Maersk Drilling and member of the Executive Board of the A.P. Moller-Maersk Group.

“The new contract with Maersk Drilling underlines commitment to our production hubs in Norway, predominately in the Gyda, Varg and Yme areas”, says John Vemmestad, Managing Director Talisman Energy Norge AS and continues:

“We are pleased that we have concluded an agreement with Maersk Drilling, which will enable us to further exploit these areas.”

Maersk Drilling is the market leader in the Norwegian jack-up market currently owning and operating six of the nine jack-up rigs present in the region.

“Oil and gas companies are increasing their business activity in the Norwegian market. Significant resources remain and we see a continued strong growth potential and will continue to evaluate the opportunities for additional growth,” says Claus V. Hemmingsen, CEO of Maersk Drilling.

Maersk Drilling has three XL Enhanced (CJ-70) jack-ups under construction that will enter the Norwegian market in 2014 and 2015 thereby increasing Maersk Drilling’s presence in Norway. The three rigs have all secured long term contracts. The XL Enhanced rigs are designed to operate in the harsh environment found in the North Sea and comply with all rules and regulations in the strictly regulated Norwegian sector.

About Maersk Drilling
Maersk Drilling has the ambition to become a significant and stable contributor to the A.P. Moller-Maersk Group with a profit of USD 1 billion by 2018, while conducting incident free operations. Maersk Drilling provides high-efficiency drilling services to oil companies around the world. In addition to the four drillships and three jack-up rigs on order, the modern fleet counts 26 drilling rigs including deepwater semi-submersibles, high-end jack-up rigs and cantilevered drilling barges. Maersk Drilling was established in 1972 and employs an international staff of 3,600 people.