Chinese cable vendor Orient Cable is leading the race to secure a contract from China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) to supply a key umbilical for the shallow water Wenchang 10-3 gas field in the South China Sea.

Industry sources said that CNOOC is yet to make the award, but Orient Cable is understood to have offered a a very competitive commercial bid for the umbilical.

The tender for the 25-kilometre umbilical also saw participation from major international con­tractors including TechnipFMC, Aker Solutions, JDR, Nexans and Oceaneering, but only JDR and Orient Cable submitted bids.