Under the two-year agreement, which comes with a two-year extension option, KCA Deutag's offshore division will provide drilling and completion services in various offshore locations in Angola.

The contract will employ about 100 people, mainly Angolan nationals.

KCA Deutag has been operating in Angola since 2005, where it manages three platform drilling rigs.

The Ben Rinnes is one of two jack-ups in the KCA Deutag's fleet.

The rig has been operating in Gabon for about 18 months, where it completed a multi-well drilling program.

It celebrated six years of being lost time incident free in April.

KCA Deutag offshore division president Rune Lorentzen said the company had worked hard to build a strong presence in the region.

"Angola is the second largest oil producer in Africa and it continues to be a major hub of activity for KCA Deutag," he said.