Archer has secured a five-year contract, with two one-year extension options, from YPF for a super-spec drilling rig in Argentina’s Vaca Muerta shale development. 

Valued at approximately $90 million, the contract expands Archer’s presence in one of the world’s leading unconventional oil and gas regions. 

The rig, leased from Patterson-UTI, will feature managed pressure drilling (MPD) technology to improve efficiency, safety and reliability.