EXCLUSIVE: Saudi Aramco tenders offshore work

23 April 2018
Offshore contractors from Aramco’s LTA group have submitted bids for the fabrication jobs

Saudi Aramco has tendered fabrication work for a number of its offshore oil fields as part of its strategic objective to develop its offshore assets.

Firms from Aramco’s long-term agreement (LTA) group of five offshore engineering contractors are understood to have bid for the latest works.

According to information obtained by MEED, Aramco has tendered a job for eight slipover platforms for the Safaniya field. McDermott International (US), National Petroleum Construction Company (NPCC, UAE) and Saipem (Italy) are understood to have submitted bids for the project.

McDermott, NPCC and Saipem have also submitted bids for the installation of 10 jackets at the Abu Safah, Marjan and Safaniya oil fields.

The scope of a third Aramco contract is the installation of nine jackets at the Zuluf field. McDermott and NPCC have bid for the job.

A fourth tender is for five offshore decks to be installed at the Berri and Safaniya fields. Bidders for this job are not known.

Malaysia-headquartered contractor Eversendai Offshore, which is a pre-qualified sub-contractor for Aramco, is in negotiations with the project bidders for executing the fabrication works, a source tells MEED.

Eversendai is already working on an order from Saipem to deliver 10 offshore jackets for several Aramco offshore fields at its 9COM-certified fabrication yard in the UAE emirate of Ras al-Khaimah.

Aramco has allocated much of its estimated $414bn 10-year budget for offshore oil and gas projects, implying that billions of dollars-worth of projects are waiting in the pipeline to be tendered and awarded. The existing LTA contractors are reportedly finding themselves stretched to capacity, prompting Aramco to expand the pool.

Fabrication is the key offshore engineering function where current LTA contractors are reportedly saturated in capacity, meaning Aramco's pre-qualified sub-contractors such as Eversendai are in pole position to be awarded much of the fabrication work.

A MEED Subscription...

Subscribe or upgrade your current MEED.com package to support your strategic planning with the MENA region’s best source of business information. Proceed to our online shop below to find out more about the features in each package.