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State-owned upstream operator Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) has tendered two upstream projects worth an estimated total of $2.1bn.

The tenders come amid a major push to increase oil and gas production capacity in the country.

The first project has been given the tender number RFP-2099852 and is focused on the installation of Separation Gathering Centre 1 (SGC1) and Water Injection Plant 1 (WIP1) in the area known as East Kuwait 1.

This project is estimated to be worth KD333m ($1bn).

The project is being developed to maintain production and deal with surplus produced water.

SGC1 will have a total liquid-handling capacity of 600,000 barrels a day (b/d) of liquid. WIP1 will have an injection capacity of 750,000b/d. 

The deadline for bid submission is 13 October and a pre-tender meeting is due to take place on 14 August.

The second project has been given the tender number 2099855 and is focused on the installation of Separation Gathering Centre 3 (SGC3) and Water Injection Plant 3 (WIP3) in the area known as South Kuwait 1.

This project is estimated to be worth KD341m ($1.1bn).

The project scope includes installing associated gathering manifolds and high pressure injection manifolds for primary oil, water and gas separation at SGC3 and for water treatment and injection at WIP3.

The deadline for bid submission for the second project is 15 October and a pre-tender meeting is due to take place on 13 August.

The companies that have pre-qualified to bid for both contracts are:

• Hyundai Engineering (South Korea)
• Daewoo Engineering & Construction (South Korea)
• Larsen & Toubro (India)
• Fluor (US)
• Tecnicas Reunidas (Spain)
• Sinopec Engineering Incorporation (China)
• CTCI Corporation (Taiwan)
• Saipem (Italy)
• Samsung Engineering (South Korea)
• JGC Holdings Corporation (Japan)
• Hyundai Engineering & Construction (South Korea)
• Sinopec Luoyang Engineering (China)
• Petrofac International (UK)

Kuwait is currently experiencing an uptick in oil and gas project activity, largely due to political developments in the country.

On 10 May, Kuwait’s Emir, Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, announced the indefinite suspension of parliament in a televised speech.

Under Kuwaiti law, parliament can be suspended for a maximum of four years.

Prior to the suspension of parliament, the country suffered from very low levels of project awards for several years due to political gridlock and infighting between the cabinet and parliament.