Kent, a global leader in integrated energy services, has been awarded the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) contract for the Upgrade Services for the Khafji Desalter and Water Treatment Plant & Related Facilities (UDWT) Project. The contract was awarded by Al-Khafji Joint Operations (KJO), which is jointly owned and operated by Aramco Gulf Operations (AGOC) and Kuwait Gulf Oil Company (KGOC).
The project is a significant win for the UK engineering sector, as it will be delivered primarily from Kent’s UK Woking offices by a team of around 150 engineers and specialists. The project is scheduled to begin in Q4 2025 and has a duration of 15 months.
Sustaining Oil Production and Enhancing Environmental Performance
The core objective of the FEED contract is to design new desalter facilities alongside the upgrade and expansion of existing water treatment plants at Al-Khafji.
The new desalter facilities are designed to sustain production of 300,000 barrels per day of sweet crude for the next 20 years, while managing an expected water cut of up to 60%. The new facility will incorporate advanced separation and desalting technologies, designed to process up to 315,000 barrels per day and reduce flaring to minimise environmental impact.
In parallel, the water treatment scope addresses the upgrade of WTF-2 and the expansion of WTF-3, increasing combined treatment capacity to more than 500,000 barrels per day. This includes modernising equipment, improving reliability, and enhancing injection and receiving systems to handle greater volumes and varied conditions while ensuring compliance with environmental regulations.
Global Expertise with Local Insight
The UK team will work in close collaboration with colleagues from Kent KSA, who will provide local knowledge, conduct site surveys, and manage in-country third-party work. This balanced approach is intended to combine global expertise with essential local insight, strengthening delivery for KJO.
Usman Darr, Managing Director of UK Engineering at Kent, commented on the award:
“We are delighted to have been entrusted once again by KJO with such a significant project. Our relationship with KJO is built on trust, technical excellence, and a shared commitment to delivering sustainable energy solutions. This award reflects the expertise of our people and our ability to design facilities that meet complex operational needs while advancing environmental performance. We look forward to working closely with KJO to deliver a project that supports their long-term production goals.”
By supporting KJO in developing facilities that balance production needs with environmental responsibility, Kent continues to reinforce its reputation as a trusted engineering partner for complex energy projects across the globe.
