Saudi Aramco's large-scale Qatif-Abu Sa'fah development project in the Eastern Province is on track for an October 2004 completion. The new onshore and offshore facilities along the Gulf coast will have the capacity to produce 800,000 barrels of crude and 350 million standard cubic feet of associated gas per day, stated a company release.
The new capacity will offset normal reductions in certain mature oilfields and is not aimed at increasing the company's overall capacity, which now exceeds 10 million barrels per day.
At a recent Executive Management Safety Review in Ras Tanura, Projects Manager of the Qatif Producing Facilities Projects Department, Fahad E. Al-Helal said the Qatif field will produce 500,000 barrels of Arabian Light crude oil per day and Abu Sa'fah, 300,000 barrels per day of Arabian Medium. Associated gas will be piped to Berri Gas Plant for processing.
The project, with 20 major contracts, will peak with 11,500 workers in July 2003. Currently, all contracts have been awarded, procurement is completed and the project's out-of-Kingdom design office is 100 percent Saudi staffed.
Construction will require 12,000 tons of structural steel, 380 kilometers of piping, 1,400 kilometers of electrical and installation cable, and 48,000 cubic meters of concrete. Some Thirty percent of construction material has been purchased domestically. The facility will generate its own electrical power. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
