Known as the seawater facilities expansion project, the scheme aims to meet a sharp rise in seawater cooling demand, which is projected to increase to 5.1 million cubic metres a day (cm/d) by 2009 from the current 1.3 million cm/d, provided by intake unit 4250. Beyond 2009, demand is forecast to rise to
5.3 million cm/d.

The scope of works involves the supply and installation of eight new seawater pumps, five distribution headers and seawater discharge manifolds. It also includes the modifications and revamp of 12 existing pumps and related facilities. The US' Foster Wheeler is carrying out the front-end engineering and design (FEED) package.

The expansion will serve the seawater cooling requirements of: the phase 3 expansion of Abu Dhabi Polymers Company (Borouge), which involves a 1.4 million-tonne-a-year (t/y) ethane cracker; and the 79,000-barrel-a-day green diesel project and the 600,000-t/y gasoline and aromatics complex, planned by Takreer (MEED 23:6:06).