Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) has invited contractors to replace flare headers on Zirku Island, off the coast of Abu Dhabi.

Adnoc is likely to invite bids for the job in September, according to a source.

Zirku Island has four oil trains that process crude, produced mainly from the Upper Zakum (UZ) offshore field. Construction of a fifth is underway.

There are three flare headers on the island currently that covers the four trains and can handle the fifth, says the source.

However, “it [flare headers] requires some modification work...because it runs between two tanks and is above ground, so is considered to be a risk,” the source said.

“So the headers, or a large part of it, is required to be replaced. Due to the flare header to be put underground it requires some engineering work,” the source added.

Adnoc undertook the Zirku island train 5 work to enhance the facility’s capacity to process 750,000 barrels of oil a day (b/d) from the Upper Zakum field (UZ750).

The source said although the flare header replacement package might have been undertaken by Adnoc from an HSE perspective, it also indicates that the client may be preparing for the UZ1000 project – its strategic goal to produce and process 1 million b/d from the Upper Zakum field by 2024.

That might give way to the adding of a sixth train to Zirku island as well, the source continued.

Abu Dhabi-based Chiyoda CCC Engineering Limited (CCEL) is carrying out the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of the fifth train, which is due to be completed and commissioned by 2020-end.