Dolphin Energy, the joint venture which runs Qatari gas from the massive North Field to the UAE and Oman, is tendering an EPC contract to upgrade compression facilties at its gas facility in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar.
“Dolphin Energy Limited confirms that a number of firms have been shortlisted and have responded to an invitation to tender for an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract which will see an upgrade to compression facilities at its plant in Ras Laffan, State of Qatar,” Dolphin said a company statement.
The news follows Dolphin’s successful $1.3 billion bond issue.
“A contract has already been awarded to Rolls Royce Dresser to supply three new gas compressors with gas turbine drivers,” continued the statement. “The move will help ensure continuous supply of natural gas to the UAE and Oman by increasing the overall reliability and availability of Dolphin’s gas compression facilities.
“Dolphin Energy Limited will award the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract in due course for the installation of the compressors,” the statement continued, without mentioning a date.
Dolphin supplies gas at cheap rates to the UAE and Oman under long-term agreements signed in 2003 and 2005 respectively, but not enough to meet its neighbours’ gas demand. Mubadala is building a 1.2 billion standard cu ft per day LNG import and regassification terminal offshore Fujairah as it anticipates gas imports increasing.
Pumping 1.9 billion scu/ft of gas a day, the pipeline network is currently running at around two-thirds capacity, despite a rising need from Dubai and Oman for gas. The company denied reports that it was increasing output.
“Dolphin Energy hereby denies media reports that it will increase throughput to 3 billion scf/day in 2015. Such reports are entirely incorrect,” the company said in a statement.
