Saudi Aramco has invited firms to bid by the end of May for an estimated $500m contract to build gas treatment units at Uthmaniya.

The aim of the project is to recover ethane, but also propane and other natural gas liquids (NGLs) from 1.4 billion cubic feet a day (cf/d) of sales gas. The scheme is expected to be completed by 2019.

Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser said in early March that the kingdom’s gas network now produces 12 billion cf/d and there are plans to increase this to 23 billion cf/d.

Aramco projects at the Fadhili, Midyan and Wasit gas fields are set to add more than 5 billion cf/d of non-associated gas processing capacity.

Progress is also being made on the Hasbah offshore gas field expansion. In February, two companies emerged as frontrunners to win the main deal for the development.