China Petroleum Engineering and Construction Corporation (CPECC) has awarded ABB an integrated automation, electrification and telecommunication order worth US$79mn for the upgrade of the Bab Onshore Field in Abu Dhabi
Spanning 1,200 sq km, Bab is one of the largest onshore oil fields in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has identified the potential to increase output from 420,000-450,000 bopd at the field by 2020. In 2015, ADNOC Onshore awarded the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to CPECC to upgrade the field.
The upgrade will include a fully integrated ABB electrical, control and telecommunication (ECT) solution with 45 power and capacitor bank skids, as well as centralised and localised automation systems.
ABB AbilityTM digital oilfield technology will further enhance the ECT solution to remotely monitor and analyse field performance where multiple oil wells will be co-located in one place. Once installed, it is expected to reduce the oilfield’s operating expenditures by 10 to 15 per cent.
Peter Terwiesch, president at ABB’s industrial automation division, said that the company aims to demonstrate the strongest local footprint, with equipment being built or assembled in the UAE and the company’s services delivered by locally-based staff.
The level of in-country value (ICV) offered when tendering for industrial projects in the UAE has become increasingly important over recent years since the UAE government announced its policy to enhance the role of private sector in appointing and training nationals.
The digital technology deployed at the facility will leverage ABB Ability (TM), the company’s unified, cross-industry, digital offering, connecting devices, systems, solutions and services to help ADNOC improve operational performance.
ABB provides integrated products, services and solutions to help customers in the oil, gas and chemicals industry optimise their safety, productivity and energy efficiency while minimising cost, schedule and risk.
