Commercial bids are due to be submitted on 14 March for the position of SAS project manager, for which three companies - WorleyParsons, VECO and the UK's AMEC - submitted technical bids in late 2005.

Estimated to cost $1,400 million, the scheme is aimed at increasing production capacity from the three onshore oil fields by a total of 60,000 barrels a day (b/d) through major modifications to surface handling facilities. The largest increase of 30,000 b/d is planned at the Asab field, followed by 20,000 b/d at Sahil and 10,000 b/d at Shah. Current production capacity at the fields is 280,000 b/d, 55,000 b/d and 50,000 b/d respectively. The two-year project will involve the supply and installation of compressors, pipelines and related facilities.

Genesis Oil & Gas Consultants, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Technip, has completed the conceptual study and masterplan. It included an assessment of the surface production facilities and recommendations for an expansion, taking into account rising water cut and gas lift requirements.

The SAS project is part of Adco's plans to increase production capacity from its fields to 1.6 million b/d from 1.4 million b/d by 2008/09.