Sources said that Zadco may even go back to the market with a fresh tender for the $4 billion onshore facilities for the project following price submissions that gave South Korean contractors the edge.

Awaiting an answer since submitting their price offers on 17 September are Abu Dhabi-based National Petroleum Construction Company (NPCC) in partnership with Technip, the partnership of Sharjah-based Petrofac and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, Samsung Engineering and the partnership of Hyundai Heavy ­Industries and KBR.