Hyundai Engineering & Construction has emerged as the frontrunner to win the main package of Abu Dhabi’s offshore Satah al-Razboot (Sarb) oil field development, according to sources close to the bidding process.

The South Korean group submitted the lowest bid of about $1.88bn for the project’s fourth engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) package, which covers the construction of an oil processing plant and associated facilities.

Among the other bidders were four South Korean groups GS Engineering & Construction, Hyundai Heavy Industry (HHI), Samsung Engineering and SK Engineering & Construction, and France’s Technip.

The project’s owner, Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company (Adma-Opco), is expected to award the EPC deal later in the first quarter.

Adma-Opco received commercial EPC bids on 5 November for the smaller third package of Sarb, which covers the construction of offshore pipelines and platforms.

The projects form part of Adma-Opco’s plan to add 300,000 barrels a day (b/d) of production from four new offshore fields, with about 100,000 b/d coming from both the Sarb and Umm al-Lulu fields.

Adma-Opco is majority-owned by the state-run Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), with minority stakes held by UK-based BP, France’s Total and Japan Oil Development Company (Jodco).