Contractors have been asked to prequalify for the project to develop the Ain Tsila gas condensate field located in Algeria’s Illizi basin.

Prequalification is expected to conclude by the end of the month and the invitation for bids is expected to be issued next month, according to sources.

The field development project is estimated to be worth $2bn.

Scope for the project includes:

• Drilling of 124 vertical wells
• Gas central processing facility (CPF)
• Water separation
• Condensate and LPG recovery units
• Gas compression unit
• Export pumps
• Export pipeline (100 km) to the Tin Fouye Tabankort (TFT) field for connection into the Algeria Gas Transmission System
• Associated facilities

Ireland’s Petroceltic is operator of the field and has a 38.25 per cent stake in the project.

Other stakeholders are Italy’s Enel, which holds an 18.375 per cent stake in the project and Algeria’s state-owned energy company Sonotrach, which holds a 43.375 per cent stake in the scheme.

The Ain Tisla gas field is located in Algeria’s Isarene permit in blocks 228 and 229a.

It is estimated to hold reserves of 2.1 trillion cubic feet (cf) of gas, 67 million barrels of condensate, and 108 million barrels of liquid petroleum gas (LPG).

The gas condensate field is expected to be developed over a period of 30 years, during which 124 wells will be drilled. The field will initially start production from 18 vertical wells. Gas will be produced via a new gas-processing plant at an annual average plateau rate of 355 million standard cubic feet per day. The production is expected to remain stable for 14 years.