WOOD Group has won a $31 million (£20m) contract to help run a coalbed methane gas development in the USA.

The Aberdeen-based oil services group has been appointed by Carbon Creek Energy to provide operations management services on a bumper field in the coal-rich state of Wyoming.

The company said the coalbed methane asset is the largest of its kind in the Powder River basin, which is a focus of interest in the industry.

Wood reckons the contract positions it as one of the leading providers of support to coalbed methane assets in the basin.

The group’s PSN division expects to create up to 65 jobs to support work on the project. The unit was led until recently by Robin Watson who will succeed Bob Keiller as chief executive of Wood Group after he retires from the firm on 31 December.

The field Wood will work on produces 385 million cubic feet of gas per day, from 7,000 drilled wells.

The initial contract with Carbon Creek Energy is for 12 months and will be reviewed annually.