The UK’s Penspen has signed a new five-year contract to provide project management services (PMS) with Saudi-Kuwait joint venture, Al-Khafji Joint Operations (KJO) for its projects in the neutral zone between the two countries.

The scope of works includes all aspects of managing the engineering, detailed design, procurement and construction of KJO’s oil and gas projects in Khafji. The contract renews a previous PMS contract awarded to Penspen in 2005, according to statement on 12 July.

KJO is a joint venture between state-owned Aramco Gulf Operations and Kuwait Gulf Oil Company, developing the Khafji and Hout fields in the Neutral Zone along the Kuwait-Saudi border (MEED 6:5:11).

Penspen’s core project management team will be based on site with satellite teams based in contractor offices around the world. The project is expected to employ approximately 200 people for five years and will include major onshore and offshore field development, from front-end engineering and design (feed) through tendering, detailed design and construction.