The applicants for prequalification include Daelim Industrial Companyand Hyundai Engineering & Construction Company, both of South Korea, US-based ABB Lummus Global, Taiwan's CTCI, Italy-based Techint and Spain's Tecnicas Reunidas.

The project calls for the installation of a new de-ethaniser column and related systems to process an additional 185,000 cubic feet a day (cf/d) of ethane and natural gas liquids (NGL) streams. It will also entail the installation of associated vessels, heat exchangers and cooling equipment. In addition, a new 600-pound steam boiler will be installed and utility systems will be modified to accommodate the new process equipment.

On completion in late 2008, the expansion will increase total fractionation capacity of the Yanbu plant to 555 million cf/d.

The expansion is part of a larger programme at Aramco aimed at boosting its gas production capacity. Bids are due on 13 September for the lump-sum turnkey (LSTK) contract, worth about $350 million, to expand Hawiyah gas plant (MEED 17:6:05).