A Saudi-Kuwaiti joint venture has extended to October 11 the bidding for the construction of gas and natural gas liquids (NGL) distribution facilities at Khafji oilfield, the company said.

Al-Khafji Joint Operations Co (KJO) said on its website the deadline was extended to October11 from Sept. 27.

Khafji, located in the Neutral Zone between OPEC-members Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, has an oil capacity of around 610,000 barrels per day.

The zone produces now between 60 to 70 million cu ft a day (cfd) of associated gas, Bader al-Khashti, managing director of Kuwait Gulf Oil Co (KGOC) was quoted as saying by Kuwaiti daily newspaper al-Seyassah earlier this month.

KJO was set by Aramco Gulf Operations, a subsidiary of state oil firm Saudi Aramco, and Kuwait Gulf Oil Co (KGOC).

'Time is not enough, I hope they will extend further the bid submission date,' a source said.

The project, estimated to cost at least $50 million would collect the gas which is flared and allocate it to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Bidders are South Korea's Samsung Engineering, Daelim Industrial, Techint, Italy's Saipem, Spain's Intecsa, Japan's JGC and Consolidated Contractors Co (CCC). – Reuters