$350 Million Pipeline Contract Approved

The UAE's Dolphin Energy Ltd. announced Sunday it has awarded Italian oil exploration and engineering firm Saipem a contract valued at more than $350 million dollars to lay its gas export pipeline between Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

"Saipem is the successful bidder for Dolphin's engineering, procurement and
construction (EPC) award to install the 370-kilometre (230-mile), 48-inch line," Dolphin said in a statement.

"To construct the export pipeline, some 440,000 tons of steel pipe will be manufactured in Japan and shipped to the Gulf. It will then be coated and laid in a continuous process by Saipem up to a maximum depth of 50 metres (165 feet)," it said.

"This pipeline is key to our plans, as it will transport valuable gas to our new energy markets in the UAE and subsequently Oman," said DEL chief executive officer Ali al-Sayegh.

"On completion in 2006, the pipeline will transport natural gas from Dolphin Energy's processing plant in Qatar's Ras Laffan Industrial City to landfall at Taweelah in the UAE Emirate of Abu Dhabi," Dolphin said.