The deadline for bids on a package to install tie-ins as part of Iraq’s West Qurna 1 oil field development has been extended to 5 June, according to industry sources.

Previously, contractors had been asked to submit bids by 17 May.

Companies prequalified to bid on the project are:

• China Petroleum Pipeline Bureau
• Al-Bilal Group For General Contractors Company
• Al-Saleh Company
• AWI
• Al-Jaber Engineering
• Saipem
• SICIM
• 77 Construction and Contracting Company
• Drake & Scull
• China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Corporation

The project client is US oil major Exxon Mobil and the package is estimated to be worth $100m. The entire project, which is made up of seven packages, has an estimated budget of $1.1bn.

Total oil production at West Qurna 1 is around 430,000 barrels a day (b/d).

Exxon is trying to increase production at the field, but progress may be hampered by delays to Iraq’s Common Seawater Supply Project (CSSP).

The CSSP was designed to transport water to be injected into oilfields including West Qurna 1 and the Rumaila field, which is operated by BP.

Initially, the CSSP was expected to be completed in 2013, but now the earliest completion date is thought to be 2022.