UK supermajor BP has awarded Valaris a contract for its ultra-deepwater drillship DS-12 for a four-well campaign offshore Egypt, which is scheduled to start in the third or fourth quarter next year.

Valaris' 320-day contract is worth an estimated $136.4 million including the mobilisation fee.

The 780-foot drillship Valaris DS-12 is currently operating offshore Senegal and Mauritania on an eight-month contract for BP, which is scheduled to complete in December. The drillship can operate in waters of up to 12,000 feet and can drill to depths of 40,000 feet.