BP’s drilling technology could one day be used on Mars or the Moon after it struck a deal with Nasa.

The US division of the global oil company, BP America, has signed an agreement with the space agency to support common goals in space exploration and energy production.

Under the terms of the Space Act Agreement, both have agreed to share digital technologies and technical expertise gained from operating in hostile environments.

The hope is that collaborating on technologies such as digital twin technology and simulations will enable engineers and scientists to visualise equipment in remote, hostile environments, either thousands of feet underwater or millions of miles away on another planet.

“We see a unique opportunity for BP and Nasa to work collaboratively on the forefront of digital technology that will cultivate further innovation in energy and space,” said Ken Nguyen, principal technical programme manager at BP.

BP said this collaboration would help it advance energy production on...