Riyad – Saipem has been awarded a new Engineering & Construction contract in Saudi Arabia and new Drilling contracts in the Middle East and in Latin America cumulatively valued approximately $2 billion. Saudi Aramco has awarded Saipem an EPC contract relating to the expansion of the onshore production centers at the Khurais, Mazajili and Abu Jifan fields. The construction of new facilities will allow to process additional 300,000 barrels per day from the Khurais field, while the installation of new satellite facilities will reinstate production of 200,000 barrels per day from the Abu Jifan and Mazalij fields. The Khurais field is located about 150 km northeast of Riyadh and it is a giant oil field, 127 km long and covering an area of 2890 km2. Saipem already built in the past the majority of the original Khurais facilities, including the installation of four separation units, all the utilities, the seawater treatment plant and various seawater pipelines. (9colonne)