Norwegian oil and gas producer Statoil (STO) said Tuesday that in on behalf of Mariner partners JX Nippon Exploration and Production Ltd. and Cairn Energy PLC (CRNCY) has awarded the contract for drilling services on the Mariner project to Noble Corporation (NE).

	
	 MAIN FACTS: 
-The contract is for four years with a one or two years' option.

-Commencement is scheduled from
May 15 2016 to September 1 2016 .

-Total estimated value for four years is USD655 million including mobilization.

-In February, the
U.K. government's Department of Energy and Climate Change approved the field development plan put forward by Statoil and its partners for the Mariner heavy oil field.

-The project entails investments of more than GBP4.7 billion.

-Statoil expects to start production from Mariner in 2017.

The field is expected to produce for at least 30 years and the average production is estimated at around 55,000 barrels of oil per day over the plateau period from 2017 to 2020.

-At 1149 GMT, shares were down 0.6% at NOK138.10.