Contractors are preparing to bid on a tender to modify part of Abu Dhabi’s onshore gas development phase 2 (OGD-2), according to sources familiar with the project.

Project owner Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Petroleum Operations (Adco) has prequalified several companies to bid for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) tender, which is expected to be issued by March.

Prequalified companies are thought to include UAE-based groups Al-Asab Contracting Establishment and Dodsal, and Oman’s Galfar Engineering & Contracting.

The scope covers trunk line modification at OGD-2, a project that was completed in 2001 produce additional gas from Abu Dhabi’s onshore fields.

Adco is a joint venture of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), France’s Total, UK-based BP, Japan’s Inpex and South Korea’s GS Energy. The onshore operator is expected to award more stakes to bring the interest held by international oil companies to 40 per cent.