Russia’s Gazprom is expected to issue a tender in early February for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of a gas export pipeline from the Badra field in the Wasit province of Iraq.

The 18-inch, 105-kilometre pipeline will transport associated gas from the central processing facility (CPF) at the Badra field to the Zubeida power plant, according to sources close to the project.

The UK’s Mott MacDonald was appointed by Gazprom to carry out the front-end engineering and design (feed) contract for the pipeline and a tank farm in June last year. It was also awarded a project management consultancy contract for the $3bn development of the field.

Petrofac, another UK-based firm, is currently carrying out the EPC work for the CPF, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2015.

Bids are due on 14 February for the tank farm deal, having been pushed back from the original 17 January deadline to allow more time for prospective contractors.

The Badra tank farm will consist of two crude oil storage tanks with a storage capacity of 35,000 cubic metres each, along with export pumps, diesel generators, firefighting facilities, utilities, office buildings, a control room and accommodation. According to the tender, the tanks must have a floating roof and be designed to withstand Iraq’s frequent sand storms.

Gazprom leads the development of the 3-billion-barrel Badra oil field along with Turkey’s TPAO, Malaysia’s Petronas and South Korea’s Kogas.