One of Rowan Companies PLC's drillships, the Rowan Relentless, has won a drilling contract from Exxon Mobil Corp. for a prospect in the Gulf of Mexico.

The contract is expected to begin in September and last 80 days, followed by four one-well, priced options, the company said in a June 7 news release.

Rowan provides contract drilling services globally, with a fleet of 27 mobile offshore drilling units, composed of 23 self-elevating jack-up rigs and four ultra-deepwater drillships.

The company is also a 50/50 partner in a joint venture with state-owned Saudi Arabian Oil Co. in ARO Drilling, which owns five self-elevating jack-up rigs that operate in the Arabian Gulf.