The companies invited to bid include five US-based firms: KBR, Foster Wheeler, Stone & Webster, Mustang Engineering and Washington Group International. Canada’s Veco, Australia’s WorleyParsons and the UK’s Amec have also been invited. An award is due in December, and the contract duration is 58 months.

The project is split into 11 engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) packages.

One of the packages, for the offshore wellhead towers, is thought to have been awarded already. The other 10 are currently out to tender.

The scheme aims to increase offshore gas production from the Umm Shaif field by more than 700 million cubic feet a day (cf/d), with the gas to be processed at onshore facilities at Ruwais and Habshan.

Gasco is overseeing the project, but two other companies - Abu Dhabi Gas Liquefaction Company (Adgas) and Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company (Adma-Opco) - will handle the offshore packages. US-based Fluor Corporation is the front-end engineering and design (FEED) contractor. The project manager for the FEED stage is KBR.

The integrated gas development scheme is part of Gasco’s masterplan to boost supplies in the emirate.

Abu Dhabi is also tendering 10 EPC contracts to develop sour gas reserves from the onshore Shah field.