Valued at an estimated $650m-750m, the scheme is the largest upstream engineering, procurement and construction contract currently out to bid in the state.

It covers the phase one construction of an effluent water injection plant and effluent collection and treatment facilities at the northern Sabriyah and Rawdhatain oil fields, and the second-phase construction of a seawater injection facility (MEED 12:10:07).

Eleven international contractors are prequalified for the work, including GS Engineering & Construction and SK Engineering & Construction, both of South Korea, Italy's Snamprogetti, Paris-based Technip, JGC Corporation of Japan, Spain's TR and the US' Foster Wheeler.

The scheme will help maintain production from the fields by reinjecting the water to maintain reservoir pressure. KOC says it will be able to process 640,000 b/d of effluent water once the project is completed. Dealing with rising water production levels are a priority for the state as its fields age.