Abu Dhabi-based NPCC has submitted the lowest bid – KD70m ($232m) – for the contract to build a desalter train for Kuwait Oil Company (KOC).

Five companies submitted commercial bids for the project out of 15 that prequalified.

KOC plans to install the desalter train in four separate portions at the gathering centres known as GC-09, GC-10, GC-19 and GC-21. The contract uses the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) model.

Desalter units remove salts including calcium, sodium and magnesium chloride that are dissolved in the water mixed with crude oil.

If these compounds are not removed from the oil, it can cause problems during the refining process, including the formation of corrosive hydrochloric acid and deposits that can block heat exchangers.