Saudi Aramco is planning to retender the contract for its maintain potential programme (MPP) for all of its offshore facilities in the second half of 2012.

The current maintenance scheme is being run by Australia’s WorleyParsons in a contract that has been running for nine years. However, Aramco wants to send the contract back out to the market in a move that will have international design consultancies queuing up to bid.

“The offshore MPP is a big contract and provides work for around 350 personnel for at least seven years,” says a source familiar with the programme. “WorleyParsons will be as keen to keep hold of it as other companies will be to take it off their hands.”

The original WorleyParsons deal was signed for seven years, but was extended to nine. WorleyParsons are understood to be eager to sign another two-year extension if one is offered by Aramco.

Aramco has an excellent reputation in the industry for investing in maintenance on its facilities. Since 2003, the work WorleyParsons has delivered includes 40 new platforms, 85 platform upgrades, 165km of pipelines, 100km of submarine power cables, five cranes and more than 300 well hook-ups.