CANADIAN independent Husky Energy is preparing to issue tenders for key packages related to the development of its Liuhua 29-1 deep- water field in the South China Sea.

The tenders will cover subsea equipment, project management and the main subsea engineering, procurement, construction and installation contract.

Industry sources said the operator’s decision to move the project forward suggests that Husky and its partner CNOOC Ltd have made significant progress in talks about selling natural gas production from the field, with some saying a gas sales agreement could be signed as early as next month.

“Husky