ExxonMobil invites interest in new Iraq projects

07 October 2012

Oil storage and gas-flaring systems to be built at Iraq’s West Qurna-One oil field

US’ oil major ExxonMobil has asked firms to express interest in new engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) schemes for the second phase of development at the West Qurna-One oil field in the south of Iraq.

Issued on 28 September, potential contractors were given until 5 October to submit their expressions of interest for the Crude Phase 2 project, according to a source close to the scheme.

ExxonMobil expects to issue a tender in November. The project is being managed by the US’ Fluor.

The scope of works covers the engineering, procurement, fabrication, installation, commissioning and startup assistance for 10 packages. These include:

  • Five new 5,000-cubic-metre crude oil storage tanks, with a diameter of 41 metres and height of 6 metres. One will be built at degassing station (DS) number 6 and four at DS 8. The tank’s foundations have already been designed by Fluor.
  • A new gas-flaring system at DS 8, including a flare stack, flare tip, ignition panel and ignition system. The package will be free issued to the EPC Contractor along with new degassing drums.
  • Two water draw pumps at DS 8, which will serve the two new crude storage tanks. One of the pumps will be free issued to the EPC Contractor, while the other pump will be purchased by the EPC Contractor.
  • Two sets of export booster and main oil pumps, located at DS 8. Again, these will be free issued to the EPC Contractor.

ExxonMobil is also pushing ahead with a water treatment facility at the West Qurna-One field, which is expected to be tendered before the end of the year.

ExxonMobil and UK-Dutch oil major Shell are working on the development of one of Iraq’s most prized assets, the 8.6-billion-barrel West Qurna Phase 1 oil field, located about 50 kilometres northeast of Basra, in the south of Iraq.

The pair are expected to hit more than 2.8 million barrels a day (b/d) by 2017, from only 279,000 b/d when the contract was signed in late 2009 in return for a fee of $1.9 a barrel.

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