McDermott to build Aramco's Manifa oil platforms

May 17, 2007
Saudi Aramco has let a lump-sum turnkey contract to J. Ray McDermott Inc. to design, procure, fabricate, transport, install, and connect offshore platforms for Manifa oil field in the Persian Gulf. The field is expected to produce 900,000 b/d of oil and 90 MMscfd of gas in mid-2011. The value of the contract was not disclosed.

Uchenna Izundu
International Editor

LONDON, May 17 -- Saudi Aramco has let a lump-sum turnkey contract to J. Ray McDermott Inc. to design, procure, fabricate, transport, install, and connect offshore platforms for Manifa oil field in the Persian Gulf. The field is expected to produce 900,000 b/d of oil and 90 MMscfd of gas in mid-2011. The value of the contract was not disclosed.

Aramco Vice-Pres. of Project Management Ali A. Al-Ajmi described the deal as a "critical phase of the massive Manifa increment."

Aramco's Manifa project includes building 13 new offshore platforms and modifying 26 existing offshore observation well platforms. "The new facilities support the structures required for the six oil production deck modules that are designed to accommodate equipment required for the electric submersible pumps and seven new water injection platforms," the company said.

Manifa also will have 4 major downstream pipelines and terminal facilities at Ju'aymah and Ras Tanura. Gas processing infrastructure will be built at the Khursaniyah gas plant to handle gas and the 65,000 b/d of condensate that will be produced from onshore and offshore areas of Manifa.

Incorporating its other major oil and gas projects that are underway or are to be built—Hawiyah NGL, Khursaniyah, Khurais, Shaybah, and Manifa—Saudi Arabia expects to add nearly 4 million b/d of capacity in 2011, adding almost 5% to the world's oil supply.

Contact Uchenna Izundu at [email protected].