Whiting modernisation

has been awarded contracts by

for its Whiting Refinery modernisation project in Indiana.

Fluor said it is responsible for overall programme and construction management, engineering, procurement, fabrication and construction.

For this phase of the modernisation project, Fluor will book $3.8bn into backlog in the third quarter of 2008.

Fluor recently completed front-end engineering and design, and began detailed engineering and construction in July 2008, with a projected completion date of the fourth quarter of 2011.

Fluor's engineering, procurement and fabrication scope will include a new gas oil hydrotreater, significant upgrades to a crude/vacuum unit and the upgrade and modernisation for the utilities and off-sites.

When complete, the modernisation project will increase the Whiting facility's gasoline production by 1.7 million gallons per day and will equip the refinery to process increased amounts of crude oil sourced from Canada.

About 400 skilled workers are working on the project, which should increase to 1,000 workers in early 2009 and reach a peak of approximately 2,500 during 2010.