Qatar Launches Mega-Trains Competition

Qatar Petroleum has shortlisted three joint ventures to compete for the engineering, procurement and construction contracts for the North Field liquefaction expansion project, it said April 15. They are: Chiyoda Corp and Technip France; JGC Corp and Hyundai Engineering & Construction; and Saipem, McDermott and CTCI Corp.

The four-mega LNG trains are part of Qatar Petroleum’s plans to expand production from 77mn mt/yr to 110mn mt/yr by 2024. While it has in the past had foreign partners in the liquefaction operations, this time it has said it is prepared to work alone, if it does not reach an agreement with an international oil company.

The four mega-LNG trains will have gas and liquid treating facilities, ethane and liquid petroleum gas production and fractionation, a helium plant, and utilities and infrastructure to support the processing units. 

Commenting on the announcement, energy minister and Qatar Petroleum CEO Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi said the tender package "comes in line with Qatar Petroleum’s plan to move into the next significant phase of the North Field Expansion project, which will culminate in the award of this EPC contract in January 2020. We are pleased to have the participation of three international joint ventures with outstanding EPC contractors; and we look forward to a highly competitive tender.”

Al-Kaabi added: “Issuing this tender package further demonstrates Qatar Petroleum’s commitment to executing this milestone mega-project. It comes at a time when all activities related to the project are progressing well and according to plan at all fronts; and I am pleased to announce that further contract awards related to the project will be announced shortly.” 

The package issue follows the April 2 announcement of contract awards for the fabrication and installation of eight offshore jackets to McDermott Middle East, and the contract award for early site works for the onshore project to the joint venture between Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC) and Teyseer Trading and Contracting Co.