Abu Dhabi has tendered the main contract on the third phase development of its Al-Dabbiya onshore oil field, according to sources familiar with the scheme.

State-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), which now has 100 per cent ownership of the emirate’s onshore fields, is increasing the capacity of the Al-Dabbiya field along with the other two fields in its North East Bab (NEB) asset.

Adnoc has invited prequalified companies to submit technical bids for the estimated $1bn-plus engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the Al-Dabbiya field.

The deadline for technical bids is around 15 April, according to sources.

Technical bids will be followed by commercial proposals with the contract expected to be awarded in the third quarter of 2014.

According to industry sources, the project’s front-end engineering and design (feed) contract has been completed by French engineering group Technip.

The field forms part of the NEB asset, which is located just 31 kilometres from Abu Dhabi city and comprises three producing fields: Rumaitha, Shanayel and Al-Dabbiya.

North East Bab has the capacity to produce about 110,000 barrels a day (b/d) – about 8 per cent of Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations’ (Adco’s) total production – and this capacity is due to be doubled after the third-phase expansion project’s completion.

Whereas Rumaitha and Shanayel are located onshore south of Abu Dhabi city, Al-Dabbiya lies in a shallow coastal marine area, which is one of the most environmentally sensitive areas of the emirate.

Adnoc has already received commercial bids on the development of Rumaitha and Shanayel. MEED revealed in January that a consortium of South Korea’s GS Engineering & Construction (GS E&C) and the UAE-based Dodsal had emerged as the frontrunner after submitting the lowest bid.