Dana Gas is still evaluating engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) bids for gas production facilities at the offshore Zora field in the UAE.

The Sharjah-based energy group tendered three packages covering the offshore facilities, pipeline and onshore gas processing plant, with the EPC contracts expected to be awarded ‘soon’, according to a source close to the contract.

Contractors bidding for one or more of the packages include UAE-based National Petroleum Construction Company (NPCC) and Topaz Energy, and India’s Punj Lloyd, according to industry sources.

The Zora field is shared by the northern emirates of Ajman and Sharjah, which signed an agreement with Dana Gas in 2012 to develop the field.

The development of the field will be a major boost for Sharjah’s gas production and represents the first gas revenues for Ajman, which, along with Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah and Umm al-Quwain, has no upstream oil and gas production of its own.