The project is aimed at connecting the onshore and offshore gas networks in Abu Dhabi emirate and will increase OAG utilisation by 200 million cubic feet a day (cf/d).

Estimated to cost $550 million, the contract will involve the supply and installation of a 24-inch-diameter, 200-kilometre-long marine and land pipeline to transport gas from Das island for processing at Habshan. The pipeline will have capacity to transport 470 million cf/d of associated gas. The offshore element of the pipeline will be about 110 kilometres. The contract will also involve the supply and installation of compressors and booster pumps on Das.

At present, Gasco operates eight process trains at Habshan, handling more than 3,300 million cf/d of associated and non-associated gas. Flour, which prepared the pre-FEED contract, is due to complete the FEED package by November. The next stage in the project implementation will be the issue of an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) tender. The scheme is targeted for completion by the second quarter of 2008. A tender will also be placed for PMC services covering the construction phase.

Also, bids are due to be submitted soon for a contract to carry out route and bathymetric surveys of the proposed pipeline.