Work on the front-end engineering and design (feed) of the $1bn central gas utilisation project in the Wafra oil field, based in Kuwait’s neutral zone, is nearing completion, according to a source with knowledge of the scheme.

“The project has entered its final stages, but it is uncertain whether it will be completed by the end of the year,” the source said.

Australia’s WorleyParsons is currently carrying out the design work on behalf of neutral zone upstream operator Kuwait Gulf Oil Company (KGOC).

The objective of the scheme is to gather gas from oil field facilities and eliminate routine flaring.

The new facilities will have the capacity to produce a billion cubic feet a day (cf/d) of natural gas and 720 tonnes of sulphur.

Environmental benefits will include reduced sulphur oxide emissions.

The scope of work includes:

• Amine and dehydration package (100 cf/d);
• Processing all sour gas from Wafra field;
• Sulphur recovery unit (720 tonnes a day);
• High pressure (HP) compressor;
• Pipelines (100 kilometres);
• Associated facilities.

In February, market sources told regional projects tracker MEED Projects that the feed study was due to be completed in May. It is unclear why the project has experienced delays.