The local Dubai Petroleum Establishment (DPE) has awarded the US’ McDermott a turnkey facilities operations and maintenance contract for its offshore fields.

The value of the contract has not been disclosed, but is estimated to be worth between $10-15m a year. Personnel will be provided to DPE as and when needed although it is expected to involve some 50,000 to 75,000 man hours of work, according to sources close to the deal.

Four firms had for the contract, including; McDermott, the UK’s Petrofac, France’s Technip and Australia’s WorleyParsons.

The UK’s Petrofac was awarded DPE’s first contract in 2006, with responsibility for well and facilities management for four offshore fields and approximately 70 platforms.

In February 2010, DPE discovered a new offshore field, name Al-Jalila. It awarded an engineering, procurement, installation and commissioning (EPIC) contract to the US’ Global Industries and the local Lamprell in September that year.

DPE was formed in 1963 and is 100 per cent owned by the Dubai government. It adds only 100,000 barrels a day (b/d) to the UAE’s total oil production of approximately 2.7 million b/d.