The Bab Gas Cap project in Abu Dhabi is moving through a competitive procurement phase as ADNOC Gas prepares for a crucial investment decision on the estimated $8 billion development. The project will introduce a major gas-processing plant and associated infrastructure to handle up to 1.85 billion cubic feet of additional raw gas daily.

According to MEED’s latest reporting, contractors must submit technical bids for the main plant package by November 16, 2026. Meanwhile, ADNOC Gas continues evaluating the development alongside other capital-intensive gas projects. The investment decision remains a critical milestone before the wider development can advance towards full construction.

Bab Gas Cap Project Broadens Main Plant Tender Competition

ADNOC Gas issued the main plant engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) tender on June 25, 2026. The company subsequently extended the technical bid deadline from July 17 to November 16.

Four established consortiums are competing for the main plant package. Larsen & Toubro Energy Hydrocarbon has partnered with Samsung E&A, while Saipem is working with NMDC Energy.

Technip Energies has teamed up with JGC Corporation and Sinopec. Meanwhile, Tecnimont is bidding alongside China Petroleum Engineering and Construction Corporation.

ADNOC Gas has also invited McDermott International, Petrofac, Jereh Group and Wison Engineering to participate in the tender process. Their involvement broadens the field of potential competitors as the project approaches its next procurement milestone.

However, the additional invitations do not confirm contract awards or establish the final number of qualifying bids. The November deadline concerns technical submissions, rather than a confirmed date for selecting the winning contractor.

The company has divided the wider EPC scope into four packages. Package 1 covers the main gas-processing plant, while Package 2 covers early civil works.

Package 3 includes pipeline infrastructure, and Package 4 covers non-process facilities and associated works. This arrangement separates major construction interfaces across the development.

Bab Gas Cap Project Targets 1.85 Billion Cubic Feet of Daily Processing

The development will support gas production from four underdeveloped reservoirs at Abu Dhabi’s onshore Bab field. These include the Thammama A, Thammama B, Thammama F and Thammama H reservoirs.

The Thammama A, B and H reservoirs could collectively produce approximately 1.45 billion cubic feet daily. Thammama F could contribute another 396 million cubic feet daily.

Consequently, existing processing trains at the Habshan complex cannot accommodate the additional volumes. ADNOC Gas therefore plans to construct a new plant approximately 170 kilometres from Abu Dhabi city.

The facility will incorporate gas conditioning, acid gas recovery, dehydration and sulphur recovery systems. Additional infrastructure will include natural gas liquids recovery, carbon dioxide capture, injection facilities, utilities and product pipelines.

Worley received the front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract in December 2025. The assignment covers more than 1.2 million engineering man-hours and supports the detailed development of the processing facilities.

Furthermore, the project forms part of the UAE’s wider strategy to strengthen domestic gas supply. The development could increase ADNOC Gas’s processing capacity by approximately 20%, according to project reporting.

Bab Gas Cap Project Remains Subject to Investment Approval

Despite progress on procurement, ADNOC Gas has not confirmed a final investment decision for the estimated $8 billion development. The company has indicated that it will evaluate the project carefully alongside competing investment priorities.

The wider programme also includes upstream reservoir development and associated infrastructure. ADNOC Onshore is separately progressing work related to gas-producing and injection wells.

The Bab Gas Cap development follows other major investments across ADNOC’s offshore portfolio. For example, ADNOC Offshore is preparing the next oil-field expansion phase under the Umm Shaif LTDP-2.1 project, which targets production capacity of approximately 390,000 barrels daily. The two developments address different resources and infrastructure requirements, but both illustrate the scale of construction planning across Abu Dhabi’s energy sector. 

However, the Bab Gas Cap project’s construction schedule and final EPC awards remain unconfirmed. The November 16 technical bid deadline is the next major procurement milestone to monitor.

Bab Gas Cap Project

Bab Gas Cap project draws global EPC contenders

ADNOC Gas issued the main plant tender on June 25, 2026, according to project updates. The tender covers EPC Package 1, which represents the largest of four planned packages. Technical bids were initially due on July 17, according to MEED. However, the deadline was later extended by four months to November 16, 2026.

Four established bidding teams are competing for the package. They include Larsen & Toubro Energy Hydrocarbon with Samsung E&A. Saipem is partnering with Abu Dhabi-based NMDC Energy. Technip Energies has joined JGC Corporation and Sinopec. Tecnimont is bidding with China Petroleum Engineering and Construction Corporation.

Additional contractors have also received invitations to participate in the bid process. These include McDermott International, Petrofac, Jereh Group and Wison Engineering. The wider field creates additional competition around a technically complex gas processing facility. ADNOC Gas has declined to comment on speculation surrounding commercial negotiations.

The bidding structure places strong emphasis on process engineering, construction capability and package coordination. The main plant must integrate several treatment systems before gas enters downstream networks. Meanwhile, bidders must assess interfaces with separate civil, pipeline and non-process packages.

Bab Gas Cap project advances toward major construction works

The planned facility will process up to 1.85 billion cubic feet of additional raw gas daily. ADNOC Gas expects the new facilities to increase existing processing capacity by more than 20%. The company awarded Worley Engineering the FEED contract in December 2024.

Worley’s design covers gas processing and conditioning units, acid gas recovery and dehydration facilities. It also includes sulfur recovery, NGL recovery and carbon dioxide capture systems. Furthermore, the scope includes injection facilities, utilities and product pipelines.

The pipeline design will support liquid sulfur transfers to the Habshan Sulfur Granulation Plant. Meanwhile, the upstream development targets about 1.5 billion cubic feet of gas daily. It could also produce approximately 80,000 barrels of condensate daily.

Construction will therefore require close coordination between upstream production facilities and the new processing plant. Existing Habshan facilities cannot handle the additional gas volumes alone. Consequently, the Bab development requires dedicated processing infrastructure near the field.

The four-package structure separates major construction interfaces across different work scopes. Package 2 covers early civil works, while Package 3 covers pipelines. Package 4 covers non-process facilities and associated works.

Construction scope and wider UAE gas strategy

The Bab Gas Cap concession covers ADNOC and six international partners. ADNOC holds a 60% interest and operates through ADNOC Onshore. TotalEnergies and BP each hold 10% interests. CNPC holds 8%, while JODCO/INPEX holds 5%.

China ZhenHua Oil holds 4%, while Korea GS Energy holds the remaining 3%. The UAE awarded the concession in June 2026 through its Supreme Council for Financial and Economic Affairs. Authorities describe it as the world’s largest gas cap development of its kind.

The project supports the UAE’s wider drive for greater gas self-sufficiency. It also supports domestic demand and Abu Dhabi’s expanding LNG value chain. However, the main EPC award remains pending, while construction timing has not been officially confirmed.

ADNOC Gas has said it is taking a cautious approach to the investment decision. The company wants greater clarity on feed composition, demand and the competitive landscape. That approach keeps the EPC race active while the project moves toward its next investment milestone.

The Bab Gas Cap project is also part of ADNOC’s broader push to expand gas processing and strengthen domestic gas supply. This strategy includes the $13.2 billion Rich Gas Development programme, which is advancing major processing and NGL infrastructure across Abu Dhabi.

Bab Gas Cap project

Project Fact Sheet

Project: Bab Gas Cap Development

Location: Bab onshore field, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Main EPC package: Bab Gas Cap Main Processing Plant

Estimated Package 1 value: Up to $8 billion

Processing capacity: Up to 1.85 billion cubic feet of raw gas daily

Target gas production: Up to 1.5 billion cubic feet daily

Target condensate production: About 80,000 barrels daily

EPC structure: Four packages covering plant, early civil works, pipelines and non-process works

Current status: Main plant tendering and development before final investment decision

Technical bid deadline: November 16, 2026

FEED consultant: Worley Engineering Pty Ltd

FEED awarded: December 2024

Expected capacity impact: More than 20% increase in ADNOC Gas processing capacity

FEED scope: More than 1.2 million engineering man-hours

Key systems: Gas conditioning, acid gas recovery, dehydration, sulfur recovery and NGL recovery

Additional systems: Carbon dioxide capture, injection facilities, utilities and product pipelines

Downstream connection: Liquid sulfur transfer to Habshan Sulfur Granulation Plant

Project significance: Supports UAE gas self-sufficiency and LNG value-chain growth

Project Team

Concession holder: ADNOC – 60%

Concession partners:

Upstream operator: ADNOC Onshore

Gas processing developer: ADNOC Gas

FEED consultant: Worley Engineering Pty Ltd

Bidding consortium:

Additional invited bidders: