DUBAI, April 30 (Reuters) - Abu Dhabi National Oil Co.(ADNOC) intends to sign a multi-billion dollar contract withRoyal Dutch Shell to develop the Bab sour gas field, the UAE'sstate news agency said on Tuesday.
ADNOC recommended earlier this year that the emirate'sSupreme Petroleum Council (SPC) choose Shell as partnerto tackle Bab's tricky sour gas ahead of rival bidder Total.
"ADNOC has announced its intention to seal a new partnershipagreement with Shell to develop gas production ... from the Babfield in the Abu Dhabi emirate," state news agency WAM said.
It did not say whether the SPC had definitively awarded theproject to Shell.
ADNOC was not immediately available for comment.
According to the agreement, ADNOC will own 60 percent andShell will own 40 percent of development rights in the field andof the new partnerhip that will be set up to manage it, WAMsaid.