By the OGJ Online Staff
HOUSTON, Mar. 5 -- Saudi Arabian Oil Co. let a lump sum turnkey contract to Technip-Coflexip Group for the expansion of its Berri gas processing facility. The plant is being expanded to handle increased output of sour gas from Qatif field, now being developed in eastern Saudi Arabia. The contract value was not disclosed.
The contract includes project management, detail engineering, procurement of equipment and materials, construction management, construction, precommissioning, and commissioning assistance. Under terms of the contract, Technip-Coflexip will construct a low-pressure gas sweetening unit, two new sulfur recovery units, and a new feed gas compressor. Low-pressure gas sweetening capacity will be increased by 250 MMscfd to 871 MMscfd. The incremental gas will be sold locally for industrial consumption. Sulfur recovery capacity, meanwhile, will be increased by 1,330 tonnes/day to a total of 3,313 tonnes/day.
The contract also calls for the revamp and capacity increase of the propane refrigeration unit, upgrade of the sulfur recovery units, upgrade of the inlet and flare facilities, additional sulfur storage capacity, and expansion of the utility systems to serve the new facilities.
The expansion project, which is slated to begin this month, will be completed by November 2005.
Saudi Aramco intends to produce 500,000 b/d of Arabian light crude from Qatif field and 300,000 b/d of Arabian medium crude from Abu Safah field and process a respective 330 MMscfd and 40 MMscfd of associated gas from these fields.
