Iraq and its partners, Russia’s LUKOIL and Norway’s Statoil , have shortlisted five companies to compete for the West Qurna Phase Two oilfield development contract, an Iraqi oil official said on Tuesday

The oil service companies selected are Saipem , SNC Lavalin Group Inc , Punj Lloyd Ltd , Globalstroy Engineering and South Korea’s Samsung Engineering , said the official, who asked not to be identified.

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We are studying the commercial offers and we expect to select a winning company within two weeks,” the official said.

Last September, Iraq and its partners issued four tenders for construction and energy projects at West Qurna Phase Two, a 12.9-billion-barrel supergiant oilfield in southern Iraq.

The official said seven companies submitted bids and two — Petrofac Ltd and Technimont — were rejected. He did not offer any reason for their exclusion.

The four tenders are for the construction of an oil export pipeline; a tank farm at Tuba; a power distribution station and an associated gas processing plant; and an oil gathering system, central processing facilities and a water supply system.