Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) companies bidding on the Kuwait main pipeline manifold gathering system have renewed their bid bonds and are expecting the contract to be awarded soon after Ramadan, according to an industry source.

UK-based Petrofac is the low bidder on the project, with a price of $776m.

The scheme is part of Kuwait’s long-term strategy to develop its northern oil fields, and will transport liquids from wells in Kuwait’s north to gathering centres 29, 30 and 31.

The full bidders list is:

• Petrofac / Independent Petroleum Group (local) – $776m
• Saipem (Italy) / United Gulf Enterprises General Trading & Contracting Company (local) – $891m 
• SK Engineering & Construction (South Korea) / Sayed Hamid Behbehani & Sons (local) – $958m 
• Daelim (South Korea) / Zahra Group Holding (local) – $980m

The main pipeline manifold gathering system project is expected to be commissioned in 2017.

Kuwait’s oil fields are connected to 26 gathering centres, which serve as a collection location for crude produced at several wells connected by flowlines, providing initial treatment through the separation of associated gas and removing salt.