Saudi Aramco has awarded contracts worth USD 80 million for services to WorleyParsons for project management, front end engineering design development, contract bid package development, detailed design support, detailed design package preparation and construction management services for the Saudi Aramco East Coast Refinery Project at Ras Tanura to partially meet the demand.

Major scope items include several grassroots units like 400 million barrels oil per day crude distillation unit, 210 million barrels oil per day vacuum distillation unit, 120 million barrels oil per day visbreaker crude unit, 50 million barrels oil per day continuous catalyst regenerator, 20 million barrels oil per day isomerisation unit, 90 million barrels oil per day diesel hydrotreater, 30 million standard cubic feet per day hydrogen plant, 185 tonnes per day sulfur recovery unit, 820 GPM amine regeneration unit, 225 GPM sour water stripper, and related utilities, controls, interconnections with existing facilities, flares and tankage.

Mr John Grill CEO of WorleyParsons said that "WorleyParsons is very pleased to be part of this important undertaking by Saudi Aramco. Our company has participated in major hydrocarbons projects in Saudi Arabia since 1956. We will capitalize on our long history of achievement and tap our worldwide resources to deliver a project that represents all that is best in global execution."

The project will begin on contract signing during the first week of December 2007 and is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2012. Saudi Aramco estimates the total cost of facilities will be USD 8 billion.

WorleyParsons International will furnish out of Kingdom services at its offices in Arcadia, California and Beijing. Worley Arabia will furnish in Kingdom services at its offices in Al Khobar and at the Ras Tanura site in Saudi Arabia.