The onshore cluster of fields will yield light oil at a time of increasing demand from US refineries for the grade.

Snamprogetti has been selected for packages two and four on the programme, worth an estimated $1.7 billion. The contracts cover the project's offsites and utilities, and the Qurayyah seawater treatment plant.

Work involves building common utilities, seawater injection facilities, treatment modules, pumps and substations.