British engineering firm Wood has secured a contract from China’s Offshore Oil Engineering Company to design an optimized pipeline network for QatarEnergy’s Bul Hanine hydrocarbon redevelopment project.

Under the agreement, Wood will manage the detailed design of 25 subsea pipelines located approximately 120 kilometers east of the Qatari coastline. 

The scope of work focuses heavily on subsea engineering challenges, including managing structural thermal expansion to safeguard long-term pipeline integrity. 

Wood will also conduct crossing analyses for 15 umbilicals and two power cables to ensure safe interaction where the new infrastructure intersects existing subsea assets.

The contract expands Wood’s footprint at Bul Hanine. The company previously delivered front-end engineering design and pre-FEED services directly to state-owned operator QatarEnergy.

"Wood has a strong track record in delivering offshore detailed design and in optimising installation solutions for complex subsea systems," Gerry Traynor, Wood's regional president for the Middle East, Africa, and Caspian, said in a statement. 

"By working collaboratively with COOEC, we are bringing together complementary strengths that will help accelerate QatarEnergy’s ambition to extend the field’s life, increase capacity, and boost production from these critical, ageing assets."

The offshore oilfield was discovered in 1970 and began production in 1972. The massive redevelopment campaign aims to counter natural production declines and double the field's current oil output rate, extending the lifespan of one of Qatar's oldest offshore operations.

Subsea pipelines serve as the primary transport system for offshore production, carrying raw hydrocarbons from wellheads to processing platforms. 

Engineering firms face strict design protocols in the Arabian Gulf due to high seabed temperatures, which can cause significant thermal stress and physical shifting in underwater steel pipelines.

Neither company disclosed the financial terms of the contract. Wood will execute the project utilizing its specialized subsea engineering hubs, while COOEC remains the engineering, procurement, construction, and installation contractor for the broader development.