The development project is intended to boost output at Mabruk to at least 30,000 barrels a day (b/d) by late 2004, from present production of around 18,000 b/d. The scope of works for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract includes the construction of a gas-oil separation plant (GOSP) with two process-trains - one for the west, east and central Mabruk fields and the other for production from the Dahra and Garian fields.

The selected contractor will also be required to build three oil storage tanks, an export pump station and facilities for oily water treatment, oil metering and power generation. The tender also calls for the drilling of new oil producing, water producing and water injection wells.

Contractors have been waiting a long time for movement on the Mabruk field development. The EPC tender was originally expected in early 2002, but discussions with National Oil Corporation (NOC)are understood to have taken longer than anticipated (Construction, MEED Special Report, 7:2:03; 30:11:01).

Total signed a production-sharing agreement for the field with NOC in May 1993 and farmed out a 25 per cent stake to Norway's Saga Petroleum, a subsidiary of Norsk Hydro, the following year. The Mabruk field, discovered in 1959, has estimated reserves of 1,300 million barrels.