AMEC has been awarded an engineering, procurement and construction contract for Talisman Energy's brownfield operations in the UK.

The value of the deal has not been disclosed but it will run for an initial five years with a two-year extension option.

Under the terms AMEC will cover Talisman's main oil and gas assets in the North Sea, which amounts to 42 fields.

The first part of the agreement involves an upgrade of the Montrose Alpha platform and will involved up to 200 people from AMEC's Aberdeen site.

John Pearson, AMEC's group president for Europe, said: "We have enviable brownfield expertise, with the ability to inject new life into mature assets, and this contract enables us to build a long-term relationship with Talisman."