The Shah gas development is in the news again with the announcement of the prequalified contractors for the US$1 billion gas-gathering plant contract.
However, what’s giving the joint venture partners – ADNOC and Conoco-Phillips – the biggest headache is the 275km sulphur pipeline it plans to build that links Shah with process plants at Habshan and a sulphur-export terminal at Ruwais.
Apparently the problem is that not only is sulphur extremely corrosive, but that while it flows through the pipeline it must be kept at a constant temperature of between 125-155 degrees centigrade at all times.
Now I’m no Isambard Kingdom Brunel, but even I can see this is a problem that’s going to take a number of very large engineering brains to solve. However, while it may delay the project by a few months both ADNOC and Conoco-Phillips are confident a solution will be found.
If any of you can shed any light on how the sulphur pipeline conundrum could be solved, or have any gossip or insider info to share regarding the Shah gas development then please drop me an email or leave a comment.
PS. The list of contractors prequalified to bid on the gas-gathering plant includes Technip (France), GS Engineering & Construction, Hyundai Engineering & Construction and SK Engineering (South Korea) l Dodsal and National Petroleum Construction Company (UAE), Tecnicas Reunidas (Spain), Saipem (Italy), Petrofac (UK) and Techint of Argentina. (Source MEED)
