Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company (Adma-Opco) yesterday signed the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) agreement for the Umm Shaif gas injection facilities (USGIF) project with Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) of South Korea.

The agreement was signed at Adma-Opco headquarters in Abu Dhabi in the presence of Abdullah Nasser Al Suwaidi, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Director of Exploration and Production Directorate, Adma-Opco, shareholders and HHI senior officials.

Ali Rashid Al Jarwan, General Manager and Mohammad Abdullah Al Raeesi, Manager Major Projects, signed the agreement on behalf of Adma-Opco and Youn Jae Lee, President, and J.D. Kim, vice-president, signed for Hyundai Heavy Industries.

"Adma-Opco awarded this prestigious project in September following the approval of the Supreme Petroleum Council (SPC) and the shareholders. This project is in line with Adnoc guidelines to ensure sustained oil production while maintaining health, safety and environment (HSE) standards," said Al Jarwan.

Rise in output

He added that the new facilities will enhance oil production with an average of additional 50,000 barrels per day by the beginning of 2010 from the Umm Shaif field.

This target will be achieved through gas injection of an annual average of 600 million standard cubic feet per day into Arab C and D reservoirs. The new oil separation facilities will handle the anticipated increase in gas and oil ratio (GOR) and produced water from reservoir fluids.

"This project is the largest in terms of cost, which is around $1.6 billion for the EPC contract only. Also, it is the largest in terms of facilities, which include three new platforms and associated subsea pipelines and cables, new bridges and tie-ins at the Umm Shaif supercomplex (USSC), in addition to major modifications of three existing gas wellhead towers in the Umm Shaif field," said Al Raeesi.

The Compression Platform, named CP-1, is the heaviest with an estimated total weight of 16,000 tonnes.

The topside alone weighs more than 13,000 tonnes. This platform will be located northeast of USSC.

New bridge

A bridge connecting the accommodation and utilities platform will be installed 300 metres northeast of CP-1. This platform weighs more than 8,000 tonnes.

The third platform, located 100 metres from USSC, will accommodate oil separation facilities and will be linked to a new water disposal well. This platform weighs more than 9,000 tonnes.

The 23km of subsea pipe-lines vary in size from six to 30 inches with more than 55 crossings of existing pipelines.

The electrical power requirement for the new facilities will be provided through subsea cables from USSC.

The project team from Major Projects Division and Umm Shaif Asset Unit is already on the move to start the EPC implementation to achieve the completion date by mid-2010.

"In line with Adma-Opco management's guidelines, this project will require full alignment of all stakeholders to achieve its objectives and complete the project on time and within budget without jeopardising HSE aspects or facilities integrity," Al Raeesi said.