Bermuda-based Seadrill took delivery on Friday of West Aquarius, a new deepwater state of the art drilling rig.

West Aquarius has a three-year contract with ExxonMobile for worldwide exploration activities.

The high-specification, semi- submersible drilling unit was manufactured by the DSME shipyard in South Korea.

It has a water depth capacity of 3,000 metres and a drilling floor layout with an improved safety and working environment.

Additionally West Aquarius can run parallel drilling operations and is designed with a dynamic positioning system.

The unit will leave South Korean waters in a few days and is expected to start its first assignment in Indonesia by mid-February.

West Aquarius is the seventh deepwater drilling unit delivered to Seadrill in the last 10 months.