AMEC, the international engineering and project-management company, has landed a deal believed to be worth tens of millions of pounds with oil giant BP in the Gulf of Mexico.
It is to provide front-end engineering design (Feed) services for the topside facilities for the second phase of the Mad Dog field development.
AMEC said the new facility would be of one of the largest floating production systems to be installed in the gulf.
The contract value has not been disclosed. Technip has also won work on the project.
Simon Naylor, president of AMEC’s natural resources Americas business, said: “This award is the latest in our ongoing global engineering and project-management services agreement with BP and continues our long-term collaboration with the largest oil producer in the Gulf of Mexico.
“The contract further strengthens AMEC’s track record in the development of global deepwater facilities, building on current offshore projects in Brazil and Angola.”
UK-based AMEC employs more than 27,000 people in about 40 countries worldwide, including around 800 in its fast-growing Gulf of Mexico operation and about 2,500 in the UK North Sea.
AMEC will use more than 200 people on the new BP contract.
Meanwhile, global completions and commissioning company qedi is planning to create more than 100 jobs in Houston.
The AMEC-owned company said increasing demand for its industry-leading technology and capabilities, combined with its international track record, had seen rapid expansion across North America, including Canada and the US gulf.
It has also taken its expertise from oil and gas into both the unconventional hydrocarbon and minerals and metals sectors. Qedi, which is based in Aberdeen, reported big rises in turnover for its Houston office.
Turnover was less than £1million in 2008 and is forecast to reach £6.7million this year. Qedi employs 57 people in North America out of a worldwide total of 638 staff and contractors.
Chris Abrusley, qedi’s general director for the Americas, said: “Qedi has experienced exceptional growth across the US.”
Stuart McLeod, qedi managing director, added: “Qedi is well placed in the Gulf of Mexico, further strengthened by AMEC’s strong presence in the region with qedi’s key market differentiator being our specialist GoTechnology.”