Northern Offshore, a leading operator of production and drilling vessels for the global offshore oil and gas industry, has won a contract from Maersk for the jackup Energy Enhancer.

The contract, worth more than £20 million ($32.2 million) will see the Energy Enhancer work in the Danish sector of the North Sea for one year, commencing early 2012.

Maersk has options to extend the contract for up to three further years, said a top official.

John Monks, managing director of Northern Offshore, said: 'We are very pleased with this contract award as it provides us with the opportunity to further strengthen our long-term relationship with Maersk.'

'This award, in conjunction with our Energy Endeavour contract announced in February, secures our second rig in Denmark and represents our commitment to an improving market in the North Sea for this rig class,' he added.

Northern Offshore is a Bermuda holding company, which operates offshore oil and gas production and drilling vessels deployed around the world.

The company’s fleet consists of one floating production facility and five drilling units (a drillship, a semisubmersible and three jackup drilling rigs).

The Northern Offshore fleet operates in various markets including the North Sea, the Indian Ocean, offshore Russia, the Mediterranean Sea and Southeast Asia.-TradeArabia News Service