American oil and gas company Exxon Neftegas has awarded Irish engineering outfit Kentz a $50 million contract to provide personnel, equipment, transportation, front-end execution planning and subcontractor resources within the Sakhalin 1 development project in Far East Russia.

This shutdown services and operations support contract falls under Kentz’s Technical Support Services global business unit and will be executed through its Russian joint venture operating company Kentz DEM.

The shutdown is scheduled to take place in July 2013. It will peak at a total workforce of approximately 600 personnel.

Earlier this year, Kentz was awarded the $128 million contract for Syncrude’s Aurora North Mine Relocation project, expanding its Canadian operations.