Maersk Drilling has signed a contract with ConocoPhillips for the jack-up rig MAERSK RESOLVE for work in the UK North Sea. The contract includes drilling of two wells with an estimated duration of 165 days. The contract value for the firm two-well period is approximately USD 26 million. The contract is expected to commence in May 2012.

“We are very pleased to secure a new contract with ConocoPhillips, one of our key clients. The contract marks our third repeat customer for our High Efficiency class jack-up rigs, which now have close to 100% contract coverage for 2012,” says Claus V. Hemmingsen, CEO of Maersk Drilling and member of the Executive Board of the A.P. Moller – Maersk Group.

MAERSK RESOLVE is the third in a series of four High Efficiency 350 ft jack-up rigs in Maersk Drilling's fleet. Since its delivery in 2009 the rig has been consistently employed in the Danish North Sea.

Maersk Drilling provides high-efficiency drilling services to oil companies around the world. In addition to the four drillships and two jack-up rigs ordered in 2011, 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 3,200 people.