Deepwater driller Ocean Rig UDW has received a Letter of Award for its drillship Ocean Rig Skyros to work for an unnamed major oil company offshore West Africa.

The LoA is for five wells or a minimum 275 days contract for drilling activity off- shore the African west coast, with an estimated backlog of approximately US $190 million, said the company. The LoA is subject to completion of definitive documentation and receipt of regulatory approvals.

The contract is expected to start upon delivery of the drillship from the shipyard in October 2013. As a result of this award, as of today, Ocean Rig’s total contracted backlog (including LoAs) stands at about $5 billion, it added.