ORASCOM - Project Wave

Orascom advances construction on Project Wave in Abu Dhabi

Orascom Construction, in consortium with ADNOC and TAQA, is executing Project Wave in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The project features a centralized, world-class seawater treatment plant, water transportation system, and pumping stations, including a 245 kilometer pipeline network that relies on advanced automatic pipeline welding for efficiency and reliability., to supply sustainable water for reservoir pressure maintenance. This strategic water management initiative is designed to secure sustainable water supply for ADNOC’s upstream operations, including the Bab and Bu Hasa oilfields. 

About Orascom Construction

Orascom Construction is a leading global engineering and contracting company with a strong presence in the Middle East and North Africa. The company specializes in infrastructure, industrial, and energy projects, consistently applying advanced technologies such as the Qapqa PWT Auto XCS automatic welding systems to deliver high-quality and efficient solutions for large-scale developments.

Project Wave – Abu Dhabi

The Project Wave pipeline is ADNOC’s flagship sustainable water initiative and plays a crucial role in transporting treated seawater from the desalination facility to ADNOC’s oilfields.

 Located in Al Mirfa, Abu Dhabi, it is the world’s largest sulphate removal plant for oil and gas, using advanced ultra- and nano-filtration technology to deliver over 115 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD) of treated seawater, equivalent to 3.2 million barrels per day.  

This vital resource will support ADNOC’s onshore operations at the Bab and Bu Hasa fields, replacing traditional deep aquifer water systems and significantly reducing environmental impact by optimizing water use and reduce energy consumption by up to 30%. It is engineered to meet the highest performance standards under harsh desert conditions. Technical and operational highlights include:

• Construction of a 70 km transmission pipeline with a diameter of 36” to ensure secure water supply to Bab and Bu Hasa fields.
• Deployment of automatic welding systems to guarantee precision, safety, and productivity across all mainline joints.
• Execution in remote desert environments, requiring advanced logistics, heat management, and workforce safety measures.
• Integration with 230 km of distribution networks to deliver reliable water resources for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operations.
• Strict compliance with environmental and quality standards to ensure long-term reliability and sustainability.

By combining Orascom’s EPC expertise with automated pipeline welding technologies, Project Wave strengthens Abu Dhabi’s energy infrastructure and ensures ADNOC’s upstream assets receive sustainable water resources for decades to come.