Maersk Drilling received a contract for the harsh environment jackup rig Mærsk Gallant from Nexen Petroleum U.K. Ltd. after a competitive tendering process, according to a March 27 press release.

The contract covers the drilling of the HP/HT Glengorm exploration well in the U.K. North Sea. The 140-day contract will likely begin in third-quarter 2017.

Mærsk Gallant's current contract with Maersk Oil on a North Sea plug and abandonment project will be halted while the Glengorm well drilling is ongoing, the press release said. Maersk Gallant recently drilled an ultra-HP/HT well for Total in Norway, and has extensively drilled HP/HT wells.

Michael Reimer Mortensen, vice president and head of global sales at Maersk Drilling, said the company has secured three new contracts in the past four months.

Nexen Petroleum U.K. is a wholly owned subsidiary of CNOOC Ltd.