Abu Dhabi is likely to extend the deadline for companies to submit commercial bids on its estimated $2bn Bab Integrated Facilities project, according to sources familiar with the scheme.

Project owner Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Petroleum Operations (Adco) has set a 1 June deadline for the submission of commercial engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) proposals.

However, this is unlikely to be met as the company is still finalising the technical qualification of companies that submitted technical bids in March, a source close to the bidding process told MEED.

The companies submitting technical bids for the project – either independently or as the leader of a consortium – are thought to be:

• GS Engineering & Construction (South Korea)
• Intecsa Industrial (Spain)
• Petrofac (UK)
• SK Engineering & Construction (South Korea)
• Saipem (Italy)
• Tecnicas Reunidas (Spain)
• Tecnimont (Italy)

The project will install new facilities at Adco’s Bab field, located 160 kilometres southwest of Abu Dhabi city. Surface facilities will be delivered for the Thamama-A, Thamama-H and Thamama-B production zones to achieve a total sustainable oil production rate of 450,000 barrels a day (b/d).

The field is sour with high hydrogen sulphide content and Adco injects aquifer water into the producing zones to maintain pressure. Associated gas is separated at the Bab Central Degassing Station (BCDS) is delivered to Abu Dhabi Gas Industries (Gasco) for processing, and processed crude oil is pumped to the Adco export network.

Adco is currently a joint venture between the state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), Total, Japan’s Inpex and South Korean group GS Energy. The onshore operator is expected to award more stakes to bring the interested held by international oil companies to 40 per cent.