Domestic and international contractors are keenly targeting Anglo-Dutch supermajor Shell’s planned Rosmari-Marjoram field development off Malaysia, for which the final investment decision could be taken as early as next year, writes Amanda Battersby.

Industry sources said that it is not just the obvious spoils that are attractive to contractors but also the opportunity to work on, and gain experience from, one of the several high-contaminant gas projects off Malaysia that are awaiting development.

The Rosmari-Marjoram development scheme looks to be gaining pace despite Petronas’ Kasawari gas project, also off Sarawak, East Malaysia hitting the skids as the state continues its demands for greater participation in upstream ventures and the slowing of another high carbon dioxide project, K5.

Malaysian engineering players and local fabrication yards are hoping that better times are in sight, with field developments such as Petronas' Limbayong and SapuraOMV's Jerun already moving forward.

For now, Shell might be keeping quiet on its plans for the Rosmari-Marjoram development but multiple contractor sources appear confident that the fields could be producing come the middle of the next decade.

Shell’s only current partner on Block SK 318, which hosts the two sour gas fields, is national upstream company Petronas Carigali, so there is room for Sarawak’s Petros to come on board if a deal can be struck.

Weekly

Sarawak scheme leading sour gas surge