The contract for the first phase covers Kepodang's central processing platform, which weighs just under 4000 tonnes, a minimal facilities wellhead platform and the onshore gas receiving facility. Nippon formed an internal alliance with Aker Kvaerner, and submitted a US$107 million bid. It is understood the original budgeted price was $86 million.
The EPIC contract for the 250 kilometre subsea equipment and pipeline package will be formally awarded in June, with the lowest bidder being Komaritim, with a $64 million bid.
The two contracts should be completed by September 2005 and BP is currently envisaging start-up of first-phase gas production later that year.
Kepodang has recoverable reserves of 400 bcf and lies in 212 feet of water.
Halliburton KBR, JP Kenny and Frontier Engineering Solutions did the front end engineering and concept studies.
