State-upstream operator, Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) has pushed back the bid submission deadline by a month for a deal to build high pressure crude oil flowlines in the north of the country.

Proposals are now due to be submitted on 20 March, instead of the originally announced 21 February deadline.

The pipelines will connect Jurassic wells in the North Kuwait area, running from field wellheads to manifolds and gathering centers where the crude oil is processed. Thirteen local and international engineering, procurement and construction firms have already been prequalified.

KOC has also pushed back the bid deadline again for another deal covering the construction of two electrical transformer stations at Roudhatain D and Sabriya B. Bids are due on 4 March instead of 19 February.

No reasons were given for the delays.

Kuwait hopes to develop its northern oil fields, which hold an estimated 13 billion barrels of heavy crude oil reserves, lifting production to 4 million barrels a day (b/d) by 2020. However, it will have to expand and revamp its oil transit infrastructure to cope with the increase.