Under the contract, worth GBP160m, Odfjell will carry out drilling services, maintenance of the drilling facility and drill pipe logistics for the Mariner field development, including options on the Bressay field development.

The scope of work also includes casing, tubing running services and modifications to the drilling facility.

Under the construction and start-up phase of the field development, the company will also provide engineering and commissioning services to Statoil.

Statoil Western Europe Development and Production International vice president, Morten Ruud, said Mariner is the largest new offshore development in the UK in more than a decade.

"Over its lifetime the project will generate jobs and substantial ripple effects for UK and the Aberdeen region. This contract award is an example of that," Ruud added.

The Mariner platform is currently under construction and is anticipated to commence production in 2017, while Odfjell will start working on the project from November 2016 and complete the work in four years, with six years options.

The life of the field is expected to last at least 30 years and it is estimated to produce about 55,000 barrels of oil per day over the plateau period from 2017 to 2020.