Adnoc receives prices for offshore oil project

15 November 2023

 

Register for MEED's guest programme 

Adnoc Offshore has received commercial bids from contractors for a project to increase the oil production potential of Abu Dhabi’s largest producing oil asset – the Upper Zakum offshore field – to 1.2 million barrels a day (b/d).

Adnoc Offshore, the offshore oil and gas-producing subsidiary of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc Group), had set a deadline of 13 November for contractors to submit their prices for the project, MEED previously reported. The commercial bid submission deadline prior to that was 23 October.

The main scope of the project involves engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of several surface facilities and plants at the Upper Zakum offshore development’s four main artificial islands of Al-Ghallan, Umm al-Anbar, Ettouk and Asseifiya – also known as Central Island, West Island, North Island and South Island, respectively.

The following contractors, among others, are understood to be bidding for the Upper Zakum oil production increment project, according to sources:

  • Petrofac (UK)
  • Target Engineering Construction Company (UAE)
  • Tecnicas Reunidas (Spain)

Adnoc Offshore issued the main tender for the Upper Zakum offshore oil field production increment scheme to contractors in late February this year. 

Contractors submitted technical bids for EPC works on the project by 5 June, MEED previously reported.

The scope of work on the project comprises EPC works for the following structures:

Al-Ghallan Island

  • Production, water injection and produced-water disposal wells
  • Pre-assembled pipe racks and manifold
  • Gas lift compressor and glycol dehydration unit
  • Water injection plant
  • Produced-water treatment package
  • Gas turbine generators
  • Water-winning pump
  • Coarse filtration package
  • Air compressor and dryer package
  • Chemical injection packages
  • Module technical rooms
  • Electrical substation
  • Local equipment room

Umm al-Anbar Island

  • Booster gas compression package
  • Low-pressure gas cooler
  • Crude oil transfer pumps
  • Water-winning pump
  • Coarse filtration package
  • Instrument air compressor and dryer package and receiver
  • Nitrogen generation package and receiver
  • Low-pressure flare gas recovery compressor package
  • Electrical substation
  • Module technical rooms

Ettouk Island

  • Produced-water treatment package
  • New produced-water disposal header and disposal wells
  • Produced-water disposal pumps

Asseifiya Island

  • Produced-water treatment and re-injection train
  • Produced-water booster/disposal and re-injection pumps
  • Electrical substation
Upper Zakum expansion

Located 84 kilometres offshore in Abu Dhabi, Upper Zakum is the world’s second-largest offshore field and fourth-largest oil field.

Adnoc Offshore initiated the UZ1000 project in 2019, aiming to raise Upper Zakum’s oil production capacity to 1 million b/d by 2024. The goal has now been increased to 1.2 million b/d, according to the project’s EPC tender, with the completion timeline likely to have been extended.

Spanish contractor Tecnicas Reunidas was awarded the contract for the front-end engineering and design works on the UZ1000 project in 2019. UK-headquartered Wood Group was appointed as the project management consultant for the EPC phase.

The UZ1000 project has since been delayed, with sources attributing the slowdown, particularly the delay in Adnoc Offshore issuing the main EPC tender, to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Covid certainly did slow down work on the project from Adnoc’s side. With high oil prices being favourable, and with its accelerated [oil and gas production] targets, Adnoc may want to push this project through,” one source previously said.

Adnoc has committed to a capital expenditure budget of approximately $30bn, along with its operating partners in the Upper Zakum hydrocarbons concession, Japan Oil Development Company (Jodco) and US-based ExxonMobil

The aim is to first raise the asset’s oil output from 640,000 b/d to 750,000 b/d through the UZ750 project, and then eventually to 1 million b/d through the current project.

Zakum Development Company (Zadco), which later merged into Adnoc Offshore, awarded EPC contracts for the UZ750 project in 2012 and early 2013.

The $817m first package was awarded to a consortium of Abu Dhabi’s National Petroleum Construction Company and France-based Technip Energies. Package two, the project’s largest EPC package, worth $3.7bn, was awarded to a consortium of UK-headquartered Petrofac and South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding & Engineering.

EPC work on UZ750 began in 2014 and was completed in 2022.

In October 2022, Adnoc Group subsidiary Adnoc Drilling set a world record for drilling the longest oil and gas well at the Upper Zakum concession, stretching 50,000 feet.

The extended-reach wells will tap into an undeveloped part of the Upper Zakum reservoir, potentially increasing the field’s production capacity by 15,000 b/d without expanding or building any new infrastructure, Adnoc said.

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/11299680/main.jpg
Indrajit Sen
Related Articles
  • Dewa retenders pumping stations package

    18 March 2025

    State utility Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (Dewa) has retendered a contract to build pumping stations and related facilities in the emirate.

    The contract covers the construction of a pumping station (PS6) catering to the 30 million imperial gallons (MIGD) a day Ghafat Idah reservoir complex and another pumping station on Endurance Road (PS21), phase one, stream A. 

    The contract covers all electro-mechanical and supervisory control and data acquisition (Scada) works.

    Dewa expects to receive bids for the retendered contract by 15 May.

    The tender requires interested firms to submit a bid bond of AED5m ($1.37m).

    Dewa first tendered the contract in April last year and received six bids three months later.

    Local contracting company Sawaed Alqafelah General Contracting (Syed Contracting) submitted the lowest bid of  AED78.76m ($21.44m). 

    Japan's Torishima Pump Manufacturing Company – the only non-local bidder – offered the second-lowest bid of AED86.05m, with an optional offer of AED85.12m.

    The other bidders and their offers were:

    • Danway Electrical & Mechanical (local): AED99.4m
    • Binghalib Technology (local): AED179.24m (main); AED 174.96m (option one)
    • Green Oasis General Contracting (local): AED200.18m
    • Emarat Aloula Contracting (local): AED242.69m (main); AED239.08m (option one)

    Three companies declined to bid for the contract, including India's Larsen & Toubro, the local Lindenberg Emirates and United Engineering Construction.

     

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/13502735/main.jpg
    Jennifer Aguinaldo
  • Tabreed confirms $408m Palm Jebel Ali deal

    17 March 2025

    Abu Dhabi-headquartered National Central Cooling Company (Tabreed) has signed a concession agreement with Dubai Holding Investments, part of Dubai Holding, to provide district cooling services for Palm Jebel Ali in Dubai. 

    MEED reported in January that talks were under way for a contract to develop new district cooling plants on Palm Jebel Ali, with an initial capacity of 25,000 refrigeration tonnes (RTs).

    Tabreed said the system will address the need for approximately 250,000 RTs of cooling capacity and require an estimated investment of AED1.5bn ($408m) over multiple phases, making it one of the largest district cooling plant projects ever awarded in the UAE.

    In a statement, Tabreed said the agreement establishes a joint venture, with Tabreed holding a 51% stake and Dubai Holding Investments retaining the remaining 49%.

    Tabreed’s major shareholders, sovereign investor Mubadala (42%) and French utility developer Engie (40%), supported the firm’s proposal to develop the project.

    Tabreed CEO Khalid Al-Marzooqi and Dubai Holding Investments CEO Omar Karim signed the agreement in the presence of senior officials from Tabreed, Dubai Holding, Mubadala and Engie. 

    The construction of the district cooling network is expected to commence in Q2 2025, with the first cooling services expected to be delivered by 2027.

    The deal is subject to customary approvals.

    Tabreed acquired an 80% stake in Emaar Property’s Downtown Dubai district cooling business at a cost of AED2.48bn ($675m) in 2020.

    Tabreed raised AED700m ($190.6m) via an inaugural, five-year green sukuk as the first issuance under its new $1.5bn trust certificate issuance scheme, the firm said in early March.

    The firm reported a revenue of AED2.4bn and a net profit before tax of AED624m in 2024, representing a 4% increase over 2023, excluding one-offs.

    Its Ebitda increased by 5% year-on-year to AED1.25bn, with an improved margin of 51%. Net profit after tax stood at AED570m, up 32% compared to AED431m in 2023.

    Mixed-use developments in the region commonly deploy district cooling. The process involves using a central chiller plant to cool water, which is circulated to multiple buildings to provide cooling.

    It is considered more energy-efficient, consuming at least 20% less electricity than conventional air-cooled or individual water-cooled air conditioning systems.

    Photo credit: Tabreed

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/13498692/main.jpg
    Jennifer Aguinaldo
  • Alkhorayef wins four water contracts

    17 March 2025

    The local firm Alkhorayef Water & Power Technologies Company has won the contract to operate and maintain four water treatment plants in Saudi Arabia.

    The water treatment plants are located in Wadi Aldawaser, Alsalil, Alsafa in Najran and Alwajid.

    According to a company filing, the contract is worth SR58.78m ($15.7m).

    Saudi Water Authority, formerly Saline Water Conversion Company (SWCC), awarded the contract to Alkhorayef on 16 March.

    In July last year, Saudi Arabia’s National Water Company (NWC) awarded contracts to install new water and wastewater connections across six regions in Saudi Arabia.

    The 36-month contracts, described as blanket purchase agreements, were worth SR190.8m ($50.8m).

    The water and wastewater connections will be located in Al-Qassim, Hail and Jizan and in the north, south and central sectors of the kingdom’s Eastern Region.


    MEED’s April 2025 report on Saudi Arabia includes:

    > POWER: Saudi power sector enters busiest year
    > WATER: Saudi water contracts set another annual record

    > UPSTREAM: Saudi oil and gas spending to surpass 2024 level
    > DOWNSTREAM: Aramco’s recalibrated chemical goals reflect realism
    > CONSTRUCTION: Reprioritisation underpins Saudi construction
    > TRANSPORT: Riyadh pushes ahead with infrastructure development
    > BANKING:
     Saudi banks work to keep pace with credit expansion

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/13498519/main.jpg
    Jennifer Aguinaldo
  • Firms prepare Al-Zarraf solar PV bids

    17 March 2025

     

    Prequalified firms have approximately three months to form consortiums and prepare proposals for a contract to develop Abu Dhabi’s fifth utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) independent power project (IPP).

    State utility Emirates Water & Electricity Company (Ewec) prequalified 16 companies that can bid for the Al-Zarraf solar IPP, also known as PV5, which will have a capacity of 1,500MW.

    Industry sources say up to five consortiums are being formed to bid for the contract as of mid-March.

    The 10 firms that may bid as managing members of the bidding consortiums are: 

    • AlJomaih Energy & Water (Saudi Arabia)
    • EDF Renewables (France)
    • International Power (Engie)
    • Jera Nex (Japan)
    • Jinko Power (Hong Kong)
    • Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco, South Korea)
    • Korea Western Power Company (Kowepo)
    • Marubeni Corporation (Japan)
    • SPIC Hunaghe Hydropower Development Company (China)
    • Sumitomo Corporation (Japan)

    The following six companies may bid as consortium members:

    • Alfanar Company (Saudi Arabia)
    • Alghanim International General Trading & Contracting (Kuwait)
    • China Power Engineering Consulting Group International Engineering Company (CPECC, China)
    • Etihad Water & Electricity (UAE)
    • Orascom Construction (Egypt)
    • PowerChina International Group (China)

    Ewec received expressions of interest for the contract from 20 companies and consortiums in October last year and issued the tender in January.

    It expects to receive bids for the contract by 12 June, one of the sources said.

    Like the first four solar IPPs tendered by Ewec, the Al-Zarraf solar IPP will involve the development, financing, construction, operation, maintenance and ownership of the solar PV plant and associated infrastructure.

    The successful bidder or consortium will enter into a long-term power-purchase agreement with Ewec as the sole procurer of electricity.

    Ewec opened the bids for its fourth utility-scale solar project, the Al-Khazna solar IPP or PV4, on 30 October.

    Engie offered a levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) of AED fils 5.35502 ($c1.459) a kilowatt-hour (kWh) for the contract, beating by roughly 3% the second-lowest offer made by a team of China’s Jinko Power and Japan’s Jera of AED fils 5.54126/kWh.

    A team of France’s EDF Renewables and its partner, Korea Western Power Company (Kowepo), emerged with the highest offer of AED fils 5.86311/kWh. 

    Ewec is expected to award the Al-Khazna solar IPP contract to Engie around the second quarter of this year, as MEED reported.

    Successful PV bidders

    In 2016, a team of Japan’s Marubeni and Jinko Power won the contract to develop and operate Abu Dhabi’s first utility-scale solar PV project in Sweihan, the 934MW Noor Abu Dhabi IPP.

    Four years later, in 2020, a team comprising EDF Renewables and Jinko Power won the contract to develop the 1,500MW Al-Dhafra solar PV, which was inaugurated last year.

    In April 2024, Ewec awarded the contract to develop PV3, the 1,500MW Al-Ajban solar IPP, to a team led by EDF Renewables and including Kowepo.

    Ewec forecasts that at least 18,000MW of solar PV will be in operation by 2035, supporting the realisation of the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy’s Clean Energy Strategic Target 2035.

    The programme envisages renewable and clean energy sources meeting 60% of the emirate’s total power demand at the end of the forecast period. 


    MEED’s April 2025 report on Saudi Arabia includes:

    > POWER: Saudi power sector enters busiest year
    > WATER: Saudi water contracts set another annual record

    > UPSTREAM: Saudi oil and gas spending to surpass 2024 level
    > DOWNSTREAM: Aramco’s recalibrated chemical goals reflect realism
    > CONSTRUCTION: Reprioritisation underpins Saudi construction
    > TRANSPORT: Riyadh pushes ahead with infrastructure development
    > BANKING:
     Saudi banks work to keep pace with credit expansion

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/13498422/main.jpg
    Jennifer Aguinaldo
  • Contractors submit final offers for Diriyah Arena district

    17 March 2025

     

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah Company has received the last and final offers from firms for the contract to build the Arena Block assets in the Boulevard Southwest section in the DG2 area of the Diriyah gigaproject.

    MEED understands that final proposals were submitted last week and the award is expected shortly for the multibillion-riyal package, which consists of mixed-use facilities, including offices.

    Tendering activity is also progressing on several other major schemes at Diriyah, including the Royal Diriyah Opera House project. It is understood that the bid evaluation has reached the final stages and the contract will likely be finalised in March.

    In January, the client also asked firms to prequalify for a contract to build a new museum in the DG2 area of the Diriyah project.

    MEED previously reported that Diriyah Company had asked firms to prequalify for another contract covering the infrastructure development works in the DG2 area of Diriyah.

    Developed by Diriyah Company, the Diriyah masterplan envisages the city as a cultural and lifestyle tourism destination. Located northwest of Riyadh’s city centre, it covers 14 square kilometres and combines 300 years of history, culture and heritage with hospitality facilities.

    The company awarded several significant contracts last year, including two major contracts worth over SR16bn ($4bn). These include an estimated $2bn contract awarded to a joint venture of El-Seif Engineering & Contracting and China State to build the North Cultural District.

    In late July, Diriyah also awarded a $2.1bn package to a joint venture of local contractor Albawani and Qatar’s Urbacon to construct assets in the Wadi Safar district of the gigaproject.

    In December, MEED reported that Diriyah Company had awarded an estimated SR5.8bn ($1.5bn) contract to local firm Nesma & Partners for its Jabal Al-Qurain Avenue cultural district, located in the northern district of the Diriyah Gate project.

    Once complete, Diriyah will have the capacity to house 100,000 residents and visitors.



    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/13497960/main.jpg
    Yasir Iqbal