New Option Exercised for Ocean Rig

Ocean Rig announced that ExxonMobil has exercised a further option for an exploration well, which is the sixth such option to be declared to the current contract for Leiv Eiriksson, for work offshore Angola, West Africa. This well in Block 33, is estimated to commence by end of January 2004, in direct continuation from the fifth option well to be drilled for BP, and to be of about 60 days duration." Ocean Rig owns and operates two of the worlds largest and most modern drilling-rigs, built for ultra deep waters and extreme weather conditions. The units are currently operating in Angola and off the east coast of Canada.