Dredging contract for Manifa field signals a start on extensive works at the facility

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Representatives from Saudi Aramco and Jan de Nul signed a contract for the Manifa project.

Saudi Aramco has announced a contract with Belgian dredging contractor Jan De Nul, to help develop the Manifa offshore oil field.

Although Saudi Aramco refused to comment on the value of the deal and was uncertain of an exact start date, it has scheduled completion for 2009. The dredging works are the start of a project that will result in a 900000 barrel per day (bpd) facility. After dredging, Jan De Nul will build several drilling islands and a 41 km causeway.

This is the first lump sum turn key contract to be signed for the Manifa development, one of Saudi Aramco's self-styled ‘mega-projects' and the second-largest by future production volume. The initial programme management contract and front-end engineering and design contract were signed late last year.

When completed Manifa will include a central processing facility, water injection facility and offshore platforms, as well as pipelines and an upgrade of the Khursaniyah Gas Plant - to cope with the extra gas flow.

Manifa is part of Saudi Aramco's plans to increase oil production capacity and is expected to be operational by 2011. Some analysts are speculating over whether or not the cost of developing the infrastructure for this increased capacity will be worthwhile, but ultimately this will be determined by the oil price at the time.

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