Abu Dhabi has selected a consortium of South Korea’s GS Engineering & Construction and UAE-based Dodsal for the development of the emirate’s onshore Rumaitha and Shanayel oil fields, according to industry sources.

While the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract has yet to be officially announced, it is understood that the consortium will be awarded the estimated $1bn-plus deal.

MEED announced that the GS-Dodsal was the frontrunner to win the contract in January after eight companies submitted commercial bids, but project owner Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations (Adco) has yet to announce the award.

The Adco joint venture, which has been operating Abu Dhabi’s onshore fields for three decades, officially expired on 11 January, with state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) taking 100 per cent control of the assets.

The Rumaitha and Shanayel fields form part of the emirate’s North East Bab asset, which is located 31 kilometres from Abu Dhabi city and includes the Al-Dabbiya field.

North East Bab has the capacity to produce about 110,000 barrels a day (b/d) – about 8 per cent of Adnoc’s total onshore production – and this capacity is due to be doubled after the third-phase expansion at the three fields.

The scheme’s front-end engineering & design (feed) was carried out by France’s Technip, with UK-based Mott MacDonald hired as the project management consultant (PMC).

Companies are preparing to submit technical bids for a similar project on the Al-Dabbiya field with the deadline now set for 6 May.

Whereas Rumaitha and Shanayel are located onshore south of Abu Dhabi city, Al-Dabbiya lies in a shallow coastal marine area, which is one of the most environmentally sensitive areas of the emirate.