The work, for the planned, multi-billion pound Rosebank and Alder developments, is to be carried out in the UK – a fact hailed by Michael Fallon, the energy minister, as recognition “that ‘made in Britain’ is a hallmark for the highest quality’”.

Both projects stand to benefit from tax breaks unveiled by the government to stimulate investment in more challenging projects.

The Rosebank field, 80 miles north-west of the Shetland Islands, lies in water depths of 3,600 feet and will require a floating production, storage and offloading vessel. It is thought 240m barrels of oil could be recovered from the field.

Chevron awarded a contract for work on Rosebank to OneSubsea UK, part of a joint venture between US firms Schlumberger and Cameron – known as the maker of the “blow-out preventer” safety valve that failed on BP’s Macondo well, in the 2010 Gulf of Mexico disaster.

The manufacturing work will be carried out at various UK locations, including Leeds.

The Alder field, about 100 miles east from the Scottish mainland, contains gas condensate, a light, petrol-like type of oil, at high pressure and high temperature. It was found in 1975 but only now appears technically and economically viable to develop.

Equipment for Alder will be manufactured at several sites, including in Aberdeen and Newcastle, by French-owned Technip and Norway’s Aker Solutions.

Mr Fallon said: “The North Sea is seeing a resurgence of investment. From Aberdeen, Leeds and Newcastle this half a billion pound investment will support hundreds of highly skilled jobs in engineering, design and manufacturing.”

Chevron has yet to take a final decision to proceed with either Rosebank or Alder but the projects were of “great importance to Chevron’s growth strategy in the UK”, the company said.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/oilandgas/10198584/Jobs-boost-as-Chevron-awards-550m-North-Sea-contracts.html