ABB has been awarded an integrated automation, electrification and telecom order valued at $79 million, for the upgrade of the Bab Onshore Field in Abu Dhabi, by China Petroleum Engineering and Construction Corporation (CPECC).  

Spanning 1,200 sq km, Bab is the largest onshore oil field in Abu Dhabi. State-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) has identified the potential to increase output from 420,000 to 450,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) at the field by 2020.

In 2015, Adnoc Onshore awarded the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to CPECC to upgrade the field.  

The upgrade will include a fully integrated ABB Electrical, Control and Telecommunication (ECT) solution with 45 power and capacitor bank skids, as well as centralized and localized automation systems. ABB Ability digital oilfield technology will further enhance the ECT solution to remotely monitor and analyze field performance where multiple oil wells will be co-located in one place. Once installed, it is expected to reduce the oilfield’s operating expenditures by 10 to 15 per cent.

Peter Terwiesch, president, ABB’s Industrial Automation division said: “We are very proud to have won the contract on the basis of our ability to provide a fully integrated solution that leverages our industry-leading ABB Ability process control system. In addition, we demonstrated the strongest local footprint, with our equipment being built or assembled in the UAE and our services delivered by locally-based staff.”  

The level of In Country Value (ICV) offered when tendering for industrial projects in the UAE has become increasingly important over recent years since the UAE Government announced its policy to enhance the role of private sector in appointing and training nationals.  

Terwiesch added: “Hiring and training Emiratis to become high-performing employees has been a focus for us in the United Arab Emirates in recent years. I am very pleased that our efforts were recognized by the UAE government in October 2018, when we received an UAE Emiratization Award.”  

The digital technology deployed at the facility will leverage ABB Ability, the company’s unified, cross-industry, digital offering, connecting devices, systems, solutions and services to help Adnoc improve operational performance.  

ABB provides integrated products, services and solutions to help customers in the oil, gas and chemicals industry optimize their safety, productivity and energy efficiency while minimizing cost, schedule and risk.

ABB is a pioneering technology leader in power grids, electrification products, industrial automation and robotics and motion, serving customers in utilities, industry and transport & infrastructure globally. – TradeArabia News Service