Nigeria’s leading offshore drilling company, Seawolf Oil Services Ltd has signed a 22 billion naira ($140 million) contract to provide one of its three rigs, JU Oritsetimeyin rig, to world leading oil production and exploration company, Exxon Mobil Corp. (CVX) for a period of two years starting from the third quarter of next year (2013).

The JU Oritsetimeyin, a 300ft independent cantilever jack-up rig has in the past been used for Total Exploration, drilling a total of 6 wells for the company. The rig will commence work with ExxonMobil following a refit to meet ExxonMobil’s safety, environment and operational requirements.

An e-mailed statement from the company revealed that its other rig, SeaWolf  Onome and Delta Queen units are signed to Addax Petroleum, the Nigerian unit of China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. (600028), and Conoil Plc (CONOIL).

“This signing is a significant restatement of ExxonMobil’s high level support of the Nigerian government’s policy of enhancing indigenous content in the Nigerian oil and gas business, signifying Exxon’s continuing commitment to support indigenous companies with demonstrable capacity to operate and endure high specification, capital intensive and operationally challenging sectors of the offshore oil business.”

“Seawolf Oilfields has come a long way since inception. Its signing with ExxonMobil is testament to how far indigenous players have come in the ownership and operation of offshore oilfield assets, and in earning the trust, confidence and support of the world’s most substantial oil and gas companies,” the company added.

Established in April 2007, Seawolf partners include FBN Capital Partners Limited, Pan African Infrastructure Development Fund, Leadway Assurance and Haskal Holdings, all of whom has lend their full financial and operational support to the company.