New Shell contracts safeguard 500 jobs at Wood Group

The Wood Group has won a new North Sea services contract with Shell which will protect some 500 jobs in the north east – just 24 hours after the company confirmed it will lay off up to 300 workers from Monday.

The three year contract extends its support to Shell’s eight N. Sea platforms. Wood Group PSN will continue to deliver maintenance and construction services to the Shearwater, Gannet, Nelson, Curlew, Brent Delta, Brent Alpha, Brent Bravo and Brent Charlie installations.

In addition WGPSN will provide engineering modifications to the latter three platforms.

Effective immediately, two 12-month extension options are included in the contract, which retains more than 500 jobs.

This is the third contract Shell has awarded Wood Group this year.

James Crawford, Managing Director, Wood Group PSN, said: “This contract safeguards long-term employment opportunities for our employees on these assets.

“We will maintain our relentless, firm focus on optimising safety and productivity, leveraging Wood Group’s breadth of expertise, capabilities and robust knowledge of these assets, as we continue our strong relationship with this key client.”

Meanwhile, procurement specialist 80:20 – a Peterson company – has had a successful start to this year, securing a number of new contracts in the UK worth a combined value of £25 million over the past six months.

The procurement services projects have been awarded by a number of key oil and gas operators and include two successful re-tenders, each for a further three years.

The contract wins come as the company continues to grow its international footprint with the opening of a new base in Houston, Texas. Adrian Quick has been appointed as business manager, responsible for the company’s operations in the US. He joins a further two employees in the Houston office with additional recruitment plans already in motion in response to growing business.