OCEAN RIG UDW INC. ANNOUNCES ACCEPTANCE BY PETROBRAS OF THE OCEAN RIG CORCOVADO

Nicosia, Cyprus - May 16, 2012 - Ocean Rig UDW Inc. 
(the "Company" or "Ocean Rig"), (NASDAQ: ORIG)  a 
global provider of offshore deepwater drilling 
services, today announced that on May 15, 2012, the 
Ocean Rig Corcovado completed the general testing of 
equipment as required by Petroleo Brazilieiro S.A., 
and has commenced revenue-generating drilling 
operations in Brazil. 

About Ocean Rig

Ocean Rig is an international offshore drilling 
contractor providing oilfield services for offshore 
oil and gas exploration, development and production 
drilling, and specializing in the ultra-deepwater and 
harsh-environment segment of the offshore drilling 
industry. The company owns and operates 9 offshore 
ultra deepwater drilling units, comprising of 2 ultra 
deepwater semisubmersible drilling rigs and 7 ultra 
deepwater drillships, 3 of which remain to be 
delivered to the company during 2013.

Visit the Company's website at www.ocean-rig.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Matters discussed in this release may constitute 
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking 
statements relate to Ocean Rig's expectations, 
beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the 
future. These statements may be identified by the use 
of words 
like "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "i
ntend," "may," "plan," "project," "should," "seek," 
and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements 
reflect Ocean Rig's current views and assumptions 
with respect to future events and are subject to 
risks and uncertainties. 

The forward-looking statements in this release are 
based upon various assumptions, may of which are 
based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including 
without limitation, management's examination of 
historical operating trends, data contained in Ocean 
Rig's records and other data available from third 
parties. Although Ocean Rig believes that these 
assumptions were reasonable when made, because these 
assumptions are inherently subject to significant 
uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult 
or impossible to predict and are beyond Ocean Rig's 
control, Ocean Rig cannot assure you that it will 
achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or 
projections described in the forward-looking 
statements contained herein. Actual and future 
results and trends could differ materially from those 
set forth in such statements. 

Important factors that, in Ocean Rig's view, could 
cause actual results to differ materially from those 
discussed in the forward-looking statements include 
(i) factors related to the offshore drilling market, 
including supply and demand, utilization, day rates 
and customer drilling programs; (ii);hazards inherent 
in the drilling industry and marine operations 
causing personal injury or loss of life, severe 
damage to or destruction of property and equipment, 
pollution or environmental damage, claims by third 
parties or customers and suspension of operations; 
(iii) changes in laws and governmental regulations, 
particularly with respect to environmental matters; 
(iv) the availability of competing offshore drilling 
vessels; (v) political and other uncertainties, 
including risks of terrorist acts, war and civil 
disturbances; piracy; significant governmental 
influence over many aspects of local economies, 
seizure; nationalization or expropriation of property 
or equipment; repudiation, nullification, 
modification or renegotiation of contracts; 
limitations on insurance coverage, such as war risk 
coverage, in certain areas; political unrest; foreign 
and U.S. monetary policy and foreign currency 
fluctuations and devaluations; the inability to 
repatriate income or capital; complications 
associated with repairing and replacing equipment in 
remote locations; import-export quotas, wage and 
price controls imposition of trade barriers; 
regulatory or financial requirements to comply with 
foreign bureaucratic actions; changing taxation 
policies; and other forms of government regulation 
and economic conditions that are beyond our control; 
(vi) the performance of our rigs; (vii) our ability 
to procure or have access to financing and comply 
with our loan covenants; (viii) our ability to 
successfully employ our drilling units; (ix) our 
capital expenditures, including the timing and cost 
of completion of capital projects; and (x) our 
revenues and expenses. Due to such uncertainties and 
risks, investors are cautioned not to place undue 
reliance upon such forward-looking statements. 

Contact: 

Investor Relations / Media:
Nicolas Bornozis
Capital Link, Inc. (New York)
Tel. 212-661-7566
E-mail:  
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OCEAN RIG UDW INC. ANNOUNCES ACCEPTANCE BY PETROBRAS OF THE OCEAN RIG CORCOVADO