One of Maersk Drilling’s latest drillships has won a $44m contract to drill an exploration well for Total in block 14, offshore Uruguay. The contract value excludes mobilisation.

The duration of the work is expected to be 120 days, commencing in March 2016, and will be Total’s first exploration well in the area.

“We have collaborated and partnered with Total many times over the years. Total is a highly valued customer of Maersk Drilling, and we are very pleased with being selected by Total to drill their first exploration well offshore Uruguay,” Claus V Hemmingsen, CEO of Maersk Drilling and member of the Maersk Group’s executive board, said in a release.

The vessel, Maersk Venturer, is one of four ultra-deepwater drillships delivered to Maersk Drilling in 2013 and 2014 from Samsung Heavy Industries, South Korea. The four drillships’ combined contract price was around $2.6bn. The other three drillships have all secured long-term contracts, Maersk said.