Canada’s SNC-Lavalin has been awarded a contract to provide front-end engineering (feed) and pre-feed services for the Zirku facilities capacity enhancement project in Abu Dhabi.

The contract was awarded by Zakum Development Company (Zadco), which plans to build the new facilities at its Zirku Island offshore processing hub, 140 kilometres northwest of Abu Dhabi.

The scheme involves the development of two new crude processing trains. The pre-feed and feed work will be carried out from SNC-Lavalin’s offices in Abu Dhabi, Toronto and Mumbai.

Zirku Island’s processing capacity is being expanded in line with Zadco’s expansion of the offshore Upper Zakum field, which is currently under construction.

Zadco is a joint venture of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), US-based ExxonMobil and Japan Oil Development Company (Jodco).