Estimated to cost $350 million-450 million, the project will entail the construction of two new gas processing trains, each with capacity of 190 million cubic feet a day (cf/d), a new production platform, six new gas processing vessels and the installation of four motors and pumps, each with capacity of 77 million cf/d.

It will also entail the supply and installation of 20 heat exchangers, three refrigeration units and two 16-20-inch-diameter, three-kilometre-long oil and gas pipelines.

The successful PMC bidder will also oversee a concept study for a debottlenecking project planned by Zadco. An award is due for the study, for which four companies submitted technical and commercial bids in October. The project is aimed at increasing production capacity at Upper Zakum and processing facilities on Zirku island to 750,000 barrels a day (b/d) from 550,000 b/d (MEED 9:9:05).

The study will look at wellhead platforms, subsea pipelines and the four main crude oil processing trains on the island. An initial study of the project has been carried out by Tebodin.

The four-phase contract will involve: identifying the hazardous operations of the existing oil, gas and water separation facilities and the bottlenecks; proposing modifications to increase output; and carrying out detailed engineering for the proposed project.