WOOD Group has won a multi-million dollar contract to maintain gas turbine engines that are used to provide power on North Sea platforms.

The Aberdeen-based oil services giant has been appointed on a five-year contract to maintain 22 turbines that are used by Talisman Sinopec Energy UK. The engines operate on the Buchan, Clyde, Tartan and Flotta installations in the North Sea.

The deal appears to represent a vote of confidence in Wood Group on the part of the Talisman Sinopec venture.

This was formed last year when China's Sinopec paid around £1 billion for a 49% share in the North Sea operations developed by Canada's Talisman Energy.

The deal follows a 10-year turbine fleet maintenance contract between Talisman and Wood Group, which concludes this year.

Iain Murray, President of Oil, Gas and Industrial Services for Wood Group's gas turbines arm said: "This is a very positive step in strengthening our long-term relationship with Talisman Sinopec Energy UK."

Wood Group has provided maintenance services for Talisman in the North Sea since 2003. Around 1,000 people are employed on the contract.

The London-listed company has been a big beneficiary of the boom in investment in the North Sea.

The maintenance and operations support arm, which works on exisiting assets, has won a string of big contract awards this year.

Wood Group's engineering division has capitalised on increased spending by oil and gas firms on new assets like subsea pipelines.