Technical bids were submitted in late July to Abu Dhabi Gas Industries Company (Gasco) for two separate front-end engineering and design (FEED) contracts for the proposed debottlenecking of gas plants at Thamama and Bu Hasa (MEED 22:7:05).

About four companies - Paris-based Technip, the US/Canadian VECO, US-based Foster Wheelerand Australia's WorleyParsons - submitted bids for the Thamama C project, which is aimed at increasing sour gas handling capacity to 630 million cubic feet a day (cf/d) from 540 million cf/d. The scheme will involve a revamp of the existing process plant, including the modification of the heat exchangers and compressors.

Bids were also submitted for the Bu Hasa debottleneck project, which will cover a revamp of train 1 to meet the original design capacity of 300 million cf/d. The bidders include VECO, Technip, Foster Wheeler and Tebodin Middle East, part of Tebodin of the Netherlands.

Major debottlenecking projects are also planned offshore. Zakum Development Company (Zadco) is evaluating technical bids submitted in mid-July for a study involving the oil production facilities on Zirku island. The study is aimed at increasing production to 750,000 barrels a day (b/d) from 550,000 b/d.