After 1999, which turned out to be 'a major disappointment' in the words of Richard Slape at Charles Stanley, 2000 has turned out rather better for the international energy services group Abbot. The announcement that its subsidiary OIS has been awarded a major contract by Brown & Root Production Services, itself a member of the Halliburton group, follows on from encouraging interim results announced on 5 September. The award has an initial value of £650,000 and lasts for a four year period. Commenting on it, Abbot's executive chairman Alasdair Locke said that the award should be seen as 'a breakthrough contract' with significant potential for a developing relationship between OIS, Brown & Root, and the other Halliburton companies. Interims showed turnover up 7% to £84.2m for the six months to 30 June with pre-tax profits before goodwill amortisation up 24% to £5.9m.