Zakum' Field's third layer of pipeline now under way

Development of Zakum Development Co.'s Upper Zakum oil reservoir off Abu Dhabi over the next few years will involve an over-all investment of more than $2 billion, about 25% of which will be for installing a 900 km pipeline system to gather the oil and transmit it to Zirku Island for offshore loading into tankers. A new pipeline network (called Z-3) will be built on top of and around two existing pipeline systems serving the Lower Zakum reservoir. The Upper Zakum Z-3 system will gather crude oil from more than 70 well head structures to three satellite platforms where gas separation is performed. The oil and associated gas will be transmitted to a central production complex via 24 in. dia trunklines (total about 97 km). The 4-12 in. dia flowlines will total around 595 km. A 60 km, 42 in. dia main oil line will link the central complex to Zirku Island, where two 17 km, 48 in. dia offshore loading lines, connected to two large single point moorings, will load 350,000 dwt tankers at 100,000 bbl/hr. The construction of the pipeline is described and the contractors for the project and their responsibilities are given.