US oil and gas engineering company McDermott International has sub-contracted UK offshore services firm JDR Cable Systems to manufacture components for Saudi Aramco’s Safaniya offshore oil development.

The Safaniya oil field is located about 200 kilometres north of Aramco’s headquarters in Dhahran.

The scope of supply comprises five thermoplastic umbilicals and hardware connecting new production platforms to the subsea valve skid (SSVS).

The umbilicals range in length from 100 to 465 metres, and will provide hydraulic and electric control to the SSVS.

JDR will manufacture the umbilicals in the UK, with delivery scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year.

The project is part of Aramco’s wider programme to replace Safaniya’s ageing facilities with electrified platforms to increase efficiency and production at the field, which is estimated to have reserves of 37 billion barrels.

McDermott is one of the five contractors to have a long-term agreement with Saudi Aramco to bid for the oil giant’s offshore jobs.

MEED reported that McDermott, which on 10 May finished its merger with onshore oil and gas-focused firm Chicago Bridge & Iron (CB&I), plans to tender for a number of Aramco’s offshore projects.