Kent has secured the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) contract for the Upgrade Services of the Khafji Desalter and Water Treatment Plant & Related Facilities (UDWT) Project, awarded by Al-Khafji Joint Operations (KJO) — a partnership between Aramco Gulf Operations (AGOC) and Kuwait Gulf Oil Company (KGOC).
Set to commence in Q4 2025 with a duration of 15 months, the project will be executed primarily from Kent’s Woking, UK office by a team of approximately 150 engineers and specialists. The UK team will collaborate closely with Kent’s KSA operations, which will focus on local expertise, site surveys, and managing in-country third-party activities. This integrated approach blends global engineering excellence with regional insight to ensure efficient project delivery for KJO.
The FEED scope includes designing new desalter facilities and upgrading existing water treatment infrastructure at Al-Khafji. The desalter facilities are designed to sustain the production of 300,000 barrels per day of sweet crude for the next two decades while accommodating a projected water cut of up to 60%. The system will employ advanced desalting and separation technologies capable of processing up to 315,000 barrels per day, with measures to minimise flaring and environmental impact.
Meanwhile, the water treatment element will focus on upgrading WTF-2 and expanding WTF-3, boosting the total treatment capacity to over 500,000 barrels per day. The enhancements will include modernising critical equipment, improving reliability, and upgrading injection and receiving systems to handle higher volumes and variable operating conditions while ensuring adherence to environmental standards.
Commenting on the contract, Usman Darr, Managing Director of UK Engineering at Kent, said:
“We are proud to be selected once again by KJO for this landmark project. Our collaboration with KJO is founded on trust, technical strength, and a shared commitment to sustainable energy development. This award reinforces the expertise of our global team and our ability to design facilities that meet demanding operational goals while improving environmental performance. We look forward to working with KJO to successfully deliver this project in support of their long-term production ambitions.”