Foster Wheeler, a major engineering and construction company and power equipment supplier, said its units have won a key front-end engineering design (FEED) contract from Saudi Aramco.

Foster Wheeler said the contract for Aramco's Khurais Arabian Light Crude Increment Program had been awarded to the subsidiaries of its company Global Engineering and Construction Group.

The objective is to increase production capacity at the Khurais Central Processing Facilities (CPF) by 300,000 barrels of oil per calendar day (bpcd) from its current capacity of 1,200,000 bpcd as well as to enhance production from the Mazalij and Abu Jifan fields through installation of a satellite Gas Oil Separation Plant (GOSP).

As per the contract, Foster Wheeler units will be responsible for the Feed, equipment and material specifications, development of a cost estimate, and procurement assistance for long-lead items.

The project is expected to be completed during the second quarter of 2014.

Foster Wheeler said it had earlier executed the original Khurais CPF Feed in 2005/2006, and was subsequently awarded an engineering, procurement and construction contract, with a joint venture partner, for the gas plant, a key part of the CPF.

“Foster Wheeler has enjoyed a very successful long-term relationship with Aramco, and we are delighted to continue to play a role in the Saudi group’s strategic investments,” remarked Umberto della Sala, the president and chief operating officer.

“This award reflects the confidence of Saudi Aramco in our Feed capability and project execution expertise, proven on previous major Saudi Aramco oil and gas developments, including Haradh, Qatif, Manifa, Karan and the original Khurais developments,” he added.

Foster Wheeler did not reveal the contract value, but said it will be included in the company’s second quarter 2013 bookings.-TradeArabia News Service