Abu Dhabi has extended the deadline for commercial bids on the largest package of its offshore Umm al-Lulu oil field development, according to sources close to the bidding process.

Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company (Adma-Opco) has set the submission date for the Umm al-Lulu full field development’s second package to 28 January, back from a previous deadline of 9 January.

Technical bids were submitted in July 2012 for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract, which is estimated to be worth $2.1bn.

The bidders included South Korean groups Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME), Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and Samsung Engineering, Italy-based Saipem and a consortium of UAE-based National Petroelum Construction Company (NPCC) and France’s Technip.

The scope of Umm al-Lulu package two includes the construction of gas processing and oil separation platforms, as well as utilities and accommodation.

Commercial proposals for the smaller first package of the Umm al-Lulu field development, which covers wellhead towers, pipelines and associated facilities, were submitted in November.

Adma-Opco is majority-owned by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), with minority stakes held by the UK’s BP, France’s Total and Japan Oil Development Company (Jodco).