Abu Dhabi has indefinitely delayed the deadline for bids on a project to process gas produced at the onshore Al-Dabbiya oil field, according to sources familiar with the project.

Several companies were preparing to submit technical engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) proposals on 17 July. The deadline was extended from a previous cut-off date of 1 March.

MEED revealed in December 2015 that the scheme was being planned by Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Petroleum Operations (Adco), which operates the Al-Dabbiya field.

Prequalified companies are thought to include:

• GS Engineering & Construction (South Korea)
• Petrofac (UK)
• Saipem (Italy)
• Samsung Engineering (South Korea)
• SK Engineering & Construction (South Korea)
• Technip (France)
• Tecnimont (Italy)

France’s Technip was awarded the front-end engineering and design (feed) for the scheme and completed the study at the end of 2015, according to sources.

Adco is currently carrying out the third-phase expansion at the Al-Dabbiya oil field, which lies in a coastal shallow and deep marine area to the southwest of Abu Dhabi city.

The EPC contract was awarded to Italy’s Tecnimont in the final quarter of 2014 in a deal worth $2.3bn.

The North East Bab asset, where the Al-Dabbiya field is located, has the capacity to produce about 110,000 barrels a day (b/d) – about 8 per cent of Adco’s total production – and this capacity is due to be doubled after the third-phase expansion project’s completion.

The planned plant is expected to process the gas associated with this increase in oil production and supply it to Abu Dhabi’s gas pipeline network.

Adco is a joint venture of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, France’s Total (10 per cent), Japan’s Inpex (5 per cent) and South Korea’s GS Energy (3 per cent). The onshore operator is expected to award more stakes to bring the interest held by international oil companies to a total of 40 per cent.