Saipem, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Italian giant ENI, has won an onshore construction contract in Saudi Arabia to convert the existing East-West (EWG-1) pipeline from oil to gas transport. The renovated pipeline will deliver gas to the industrial zone in Yanbu. The turnkey contract was awarded by the Saudi Arabian oil company, Saudi Aramco, and requires de-cruding, cleaning and purging the 960-kilometre-long EWG-1 pipeline. The contract also calls for detailed design, fabrication, construction, installation and commissioning of new sections of EWG-1 line and related communication facilities. Completion is expected in early 2008, according to a report published today by Arab News.