Over 30 local and international companies submitted prequalification documents by the 27 October deadline to the client, Iranian Offshore Oil Company (IOOC). The project is being tendered in four separate packages (MEED 11:10:02).

Among companies to submit prequalification documents for the engineering, procurement, installation and commissioning (EPIC) contract are Gulf Marine Maintenance & Offshore Service Company (GMMOS)and Gulf Piping Company, both of the UAE, Malaysia's SSEand Iranian Offshore Engineering & Construction (IOEC), Oil Industries Engineering & Construction (OIEC), Petroparsand Sadra, all local.

The four packages on the project cover substructures and conductors; topsides and bridges; refurbishment of the D4 platform and upgrading of drilling facilities; and pipelines and sub-sea cables. The project also involves the rehabilitation of existing equipment and facilities at Reshadat. Companies are eligible to bid for one or more packages. International companies will be required to bid in partnership with local firms.

IOOC says it plans to conclude the evaluation of the prequalification proposals and draw up a shortlist by mid-November. The list will then need to be approved by an internal committee and will be followed by the release of tender documents in December.

It is not yet clear whether tender documents for all four packages will be released at the same time or at different stages.

The project aims to boost capacity at Reshadat to 80,000 barrels a day (b/d) by the end of 2005, from the existing level of 3,000 b/d. Reshadat and the neighbouring Resalat and Salman oil fields were severely damaged during the first Gulf war.