Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) has invited expressions of interest (EOIs) from developer/developer consortiums for a large-scale water treatment plants and transmission pipelines project to be developed on a build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) basis.

The scope of work includes development, financing, construction, operation, maintenance, and ownership of two standalone greenfield seawater nanofiltration plants with a combined treatment capacity of 210 million gallons per day (mgpd), together with pumping stations and transmission pipelines to transport the treated water to onshore oilfields, requiring 450 km of new pipeline infrastructure.

These two plants will be located at greenfield sites at Al Mirfa and Al Nouf (previously known as Al Dabbiya), to the west of the city of Abu Dhabi, said Adnoc.

Once operational, the project will replace the current aquifer water injection systems used for maintaining reservoir pressure in all onshore fields in Abu Dhabi.

According to Adnoc, the mega-project will ensure a reliable source of water injection and preserve the UAE’s natural resources by containing aquifer depletion, said the company. It will enhance operational efficiencies and result in net reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions compared to the current injection system, thus supporting Adnoc’s sustainability goal of reducing its greenhouse gas intensity (GHG) by 25 per cent over the next decade.

The last date for submitting the EoIs was March 15.

Khalid Abdul Samad, Senior Vice President (Production), said: “We are pleased to embark on this strategic project which will unlock major efficiencies and reduce CO2 emissions, underscoring Adnoc’s drive to maintain its position as an industry leader in low cost and low carbon hydrocarbon production. It will also enable us to conserve precious water resources as we maximise value from our reservoirs. We welcome new and existing partners who have the required expertise and technology to come and explore this win-win investment opportunity that offers potential to drive long-term and sustainable value for our mutual benefit.”

This project is expected to be funded through a special purpose vehicle (SPV), which will be jointly owned by Adnoc and the winning bidder. Adnoc said the developer/developer consortium will develop, own and operate two seawater treatment plants and transmission pipelines under a long-term agreement with Adnoc.

The SPV will enter into a long-term water treatment and transportation agreement (WTTA) with Adnoc, which will be the single buyer of the water produced by the project.

The successful bidder, alongside Adnoc, will develop and operate the treatment and transmission system, and hand over the full project to the Abu Dhabi group at the end of the WTTA, it added.