Fluor Corp and AMEC Plc have formed a joint venture to compete for contracts to rebuild Iraq's damaged petroleum infrastructure.

The two companies, which announced their combination on April 24, say they will pursue contracts the Corps of Engineers plans to award. The companies said Fluor, Aliso Viejo, Calif., will own 51% of the venture and London-based AMEC the remaining share.

Fluor and AMEC said that if they win a Corps oil field contract they "expect to employ a significant percentage of Iraqis."

In March, the Corps awarded a contract to Halliburton Co.'s Kellogg Brown & Root unit to extinguish oil field fires and start rebuilding petroleum infrastructure in Iraq. But the Corps also said there would be competition for follow-on oil field work.

Fluor is one of three U.S. firms that won separate Corps indefinite quantity contracts announced April 4 for work in overseas areas under the U.S. Central Command. Perini Corp., Framingham, Mass., and Washington Group International, Boise, are the other two companies that were awarded those contracts.