The prospective bidders are Parsons Engineering Corporation, Fluor Daniel, Kellogg Brown & Root, Foster Wheeler, Jacobs Engineering Group and Stone & Webster(part of the Shaw Group), all of the US, and AMEC and Kvaerner E&C, both of the UK.

A pre-tender meeting was due to be held in mid-October, but has now been postponed until 30 October. Given the delay, the original bid submission deadline of 5 November is expected to be extended, although prospective bidders have still to be informed of a new date.

The first contract will cover the northern oil fields, while the second will be for the south and west oil production facilities. KOC has the option to award the contracts separately or to one company.

At present, Parsons Engineering is providing PMC services for all KOC projects under an estimated $45-50 million contract awarded in late 2001. The contract is due to expire on 13 June (MEED 30:11:01).