Drilling giant Schlumberger and US rival Weatherford as well UnaRos, a joint venture of Italy’s Rosetti Marino and privately-held Unaoil, are competing to provide Eni with processing facilities that will help the operator in its multi-billion-dollar programme to boost production from 300,000 bpd to 750,000 bpd en route to a final target of 1.125 million bpd.

Contractors said that Eni has been studying commercial and technical bids from the contenders, with an award expected in coming weeks.

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