The bidders include: Lebanon's Contracting & Trading Company (CAT), Tekfen of Turkey with the local Al-Rashid Trading & Contracting Company, Italy's Saipem, Cyprus-based Joannou & Paraskevaides (J&P - Overseas), Russia's Stroytransgaz, with the local Metal Services Company, and the Netherlands' Suedrohrbau (MEED 3:2:06).

The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts, worth a total of $450 million, cover the installation of more than 900 kilometres of steel pipe from the Qurayyah seawater treatment plant to Khurais.

Package A involves the installation of a 78-kilometre-long, 56-inch-diameter pipeline from Qurayyah to Ain Dar, where it will join up with a 144-kilometre, 60-inch diameter pipeline to Khurais. Package B covers 495 kilometres of 18-36-inch-diameter pipe from Khurais to the Mazalij oil field. Package C calls for the installation of a 135-kilometre-long, 60-inch pipeline from Qurayyah to Haradh and a 48-kilometre, 42-inch pipeline from Haradh to Abu Jaffan. There will also be more than 32 kilometres of 16-20-inch-diameter injection pipe. The pipelines are due to be installed by the third quarter of 2008.