Prequalifiers for the study contract include the US/Canadian VECO, Tebodin Middle East, part of Tebodin of the Netherlands, Australia's WorleyParsons and Washington Group International, Mustang International and Foster Wheeler, all of the US.

The contract will also entail carrying out the front-end engineering and design (FEED) package for the installation of surface production facilities - gas-oil separators, slug catchers, a gathering network and pumps. Exploratory drilling has already been carried out, following 2D and 3D seismic surveys.

The Umm al-Lulu field is being developed by Zadco on behalf of Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company (Adma-Opco). The new facilities will be linked to the existing production units at the adjacent Umm al-Dalkh (UAD) field. Zadco plans a full-field development of UAD aimed at increasing production capacity by 7,000 b/d to 20,000 b/d, through handling water cuts and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques.

Umm al-Lulu is the fourth new oil field to be opened for development this year, as part of Abu Dhabi's plans to increase production capacity to 3.5 million b/d by 2009/10. Early works are under way for the development of the Nasr, Qusahwira and Bida al-Qemzan fields. An estimated $3,500 million will be invested in drilling and the construction of new production and support facilities to produce a total of 190,000 b/d (MEED 17:2:06).