DryShips Inc. (NASDAQ: DRYS), a global provider of marine transportation services for drybulk cargoes and off-shore contract drilling oil services, announced that its fully-owned subsidiary Ocean Rig UDW Inc. has received a Letter of Award from an American exploration company for a four well contract for exploration drilling offshore West Africa for a period of about 300 days, commencing in the first or second quarter of 2011. The contract value is approximately $135m. The contract is subject to final documentation.