Aberdeen-based oil and gas services giant Wood Group said it has established a new data analytics centre of excellence — at its office in Galway, Ireland.

The centre, supported by Ireland’s Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation through IDA Ireland, broadens Wood Group’s capabilities in advanced data analytics to support the oil and gas, industrial, utility and power generation sectors.

Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor said: “This company is at the cutting edge of providing services for the oil and gas, and power generation industries and will create further high skilled jobs in Galway.

“It is very gratifying that they are based in a regional location, and their expansion here dovetails with the Government’s Regional Action Plan for Jobs process.”

Wood Group said it is looking to grow the data analytics team to ten people by year end with the intention of developing further employment opportunities next year.

Bob MacDonald, Wood Group’s CEO Specialist Technical Solutions said: “Wood Group’s commitment is to providing innovative technical solutions that solve our client’s challenges.

“We recognise the power of data analytics to enable our energy industry clients to optimize their exploration and drilling activities, enhance efficiencies and maximize the productivity of their assets.

“This new centre, made possible through the support of the IDA, greatly enhances our specialist technical capabilities, enabling us to handle large quantities of data effectively and embrace and explore new innovations and technologies for the oil and gas, industrial, utility and power sectors.

“This broadening of our capability in data analytics, married with our strong expertise and heritage in engineering will create exciting new opportunities for efficiencies that will directly benefit our clients.”