Worley Ltd. secures a front-end engineering design contract to lead decarbonization efforts at Sohar Refinery in Oman, marking a significant step in industry-wide energy transition initiatives.
Worley Ltd., a prominent engineering services provider based in North Sydney, Australia, has been awarded a Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) contract by OQ Refineries and Petroleum Industries LLC (OQ RPI) to spearhead a decarbonization initiative at the Sohar Refinery in Oman. This project, focused on enhancing energy efficiency and reducing the refinery’s carbon footprint, will see Worley tasked with providing comprehensive engineering services throughout the FEED phase.
The Sohar Refinery, an integrated facility processing 198,000 barrels per day, operates as a key asset within OQ RPI’s portfolio. Worley’s scope includes developing engineering solutions aimed at maximising heat recovery alongside improving the existing energy efficiency of the refinery’s operations. These measures are aligned with OQ’s strategic objectives to modernize the refinery while bolstering its sustainability credentials in response to tightening environmental regulations.
Worley’s delivery model for this project involves coordinated efforts between its local engineering team in Oman and the Global Integrated Delivery (GID) centre in India, reflecting the company’s integrated global approach to engineering and technical support. This collaboration ensures that Worley leverages wide-ranging expertise and optimises resource allocation, enhancing project execution quality.
According to Chris Ashton, Worley’s Chief Executive Officer, the contract underscores a longstanding partnership with OQ RPI that spans more than two decades. Speaking to industry media, Ashton highlighted the company’s commitment to supporting the energy transition by applying its global experience to help reduce the carbon intensity of refining operations. He emphasised that this project not only addresses environmental sustainability but also ensures compliance with evolving regulations, positioning the refinery within a future-focused energy framework.
This project exemplifies growing trends in the refining sector, where operators are increasingly investing in decarbonization technologies and energy efficiency improvements to reconcile ongoing operations with environmental responsibilities. While specific timelines for the Sohar project’s completion have yet to be disclosed, its execution at an operating refinery presents both technical and operational challenges that Worley’s expertise is well-suited to address.
Worley’s involvement in Sohar aligns with its broader portfolio, which includes similar decarbonization and sustainability projects worldwide. For instance, the company is also engaged in front-end engineering design for QatarEnergy LNG’s CO2 sequestration project at Ras Laffan, Qatar, a major initiative aimed at capturing billions of tonnes of CO2 annually to reduce emissions across the LNG value chain. Additionally, Worley is active in renewable fuels, having secured FEED contracts for projects converting conventional diesel plants to produce renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel in Sweden.
Together, these projects underscore Worley’s strategic positioning as a global engineering partner in industrial decarbonization, capable of supporting energy producers through multi-faceted transitions towards lower-carbon operations. The Sohar Refinery decarbonization project will likely contribute valuable engineering insights and operational benchmarks for the wider refining industry grappling with the challenges of the energy transition.
- https://www.chemengonline.com/worley-awarded-feed-contract-for-decarbonization-project-at-oqs-sohar-refinery/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.chemengonline.com/worley-awarded-feed-contract-for-decarbonization-project-at-oqs-sohar-refinery/ – Worley Ltd. has secured a contract with OQ Refineries and Petroleum Industries LLC (OQ RPI) to provide Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) for a decarbonization project at its Sohar Refinery in Oman. Worley will be solely responsible for providing engineering services during the FEED phase, including initiatives to maximize heat recovery and improve energy efficiency. Technical services will be executed by Worley’s team in Oman together with its Global Integrated Delivery (GID) team in India. CEO Chris Ashton emphasized the long-term partnership with OQ RPI and the project’s contribution to the energy transition and environmental standards compliance.
- https://globalflowcontrol.com/newsroom/worley-feed-contract-oq-sohar-refinery-decarbonisation/ – Worley has been awarded a Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) contract by OQ Refineries and Petroleum Industries (OQ RPI) to support a major decarbonisation effort at the Sohar Refinery in Oman. The Australia-based engineering services firm will develop FEED-phase engineering solutions aimed at maximising heat recovery, improving energy efficiency, and lowering the carbon footprint of the refinery’s existing operations. The project aligns with OQ’s broader push to enhance sustainability and meet tightening environmental standards. Worley’s engineering work will be led by its in-country team in Oman, with additional technical support from the company’s Global Integrated Delivery centre in India.
- https://www.ogj.com/refining-processing/refining/optimization/news/55333047/oman-taps-worley-for-sohar-refinery-decarbonization-works – OQ RPI has contracted Worley Ltd. to deliver design and engineering services for a project to decarbonize the operator’s 198,000-b/d integrated refinery at Sohar, Oman. Worley will provide front-end engineering and design (FEED) services for the project’s components, which include initiatives to maximize heat recovery and improve energy efficiency of the refinery’s existing operations. The decarbonization project complements ongoing efforts to modernize and make the refinery more sustainable. Further details regarding the proposed decarbonization project—including a timeline for its completion—have yet to be revealed.
- https://www.indexbox.io/blog/worley-awarded-feed-contract-for-oq-sohar-refinery-decarbonization/ – Worley Ltd. has secured a contract with OQ Refineries and Petroleum Industries LLC to provide Front-End Engineering Design for a decarbonization project at its Sohar Refinery in Oman. Worley will be solely responsible for providing engineering services during the FEED phase, which will include initiatives to maximize heat recovery and improve the energy efficiency of the existing OQ Sohar Refinery. The technical services for the project will be executed by Worley’s team in Oman together with its Global Integrated Delivery team in India. The work at the operating Sohar Refinery is noted as a demonstration of Worley’s decarbonization capability.
- https://decarbonisationtechnology.com/news/1207/worley-awarded-feed-contract-for-co2-sequestration-project-in-ras-laffan – Worley is providing front-end engineering design services for QatarEnergy LNG’s CO2 sequestration project in Ras Laffan, Qatar. The project aims to capture 4.3 million tonnes of CO2 annually, helping to reduce QatarEnergy LNG’s environmental impact across the LNG value chain by reducing emissions from its seven LNG trains at QG North and three LNG trains at QG South. The sequestration facility will capture CO2 from the trains, compress it, and inject it into new injection wells. New compression trains and pipelines need to be installed after FEED is completed.
- https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/refining/10092025/worley-awarded-feed-contract-for-renewable-diesel-and-aviation-fuel-project-in-sweden/ – Worley has been awarded a contract by Preem for front-end engineering design (FEED) verification for the planned conversion of the ICR plant at the Lysekil refinery in Sweden. The project aims to transform the plant from conventional diesel production to the production of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF/biojet). The FEED verification is scheduled to begin in August 2025, and the contract includes a roll over into the engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCm) phase, anticipated to start in early 2026, pending Preem’s final investment decision. Currently focused on traditional diesel, the Lysekil plant will, through this project, help position Preem as one of the largest producers of renewable aviation fuel in Northern Europe, while also becoming one of the region’s leading producers of renewable fuels for road transportation.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative was published on December 1, 2025, and has not appeared elsewhere prior to this date. No evidence of recycled or republished content was found. The report is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were identified. The content is original and timely.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The direct quote from Chris Ashton, Worley’s CEO, appears to be original, with no identical matches found in earlier material. The wording is consistent across sources, indicating no variations. This suggests the content is potentially original or exclusive.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from Chemical Engineering Online, a reputable industry publication. While the source is credible, it is not as widely known as some major outlets. The report is based on a press release, which is a common practice in the industry. No unverifiable entities or fabricated information were identified.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about Worley being awarded a FEED contract for the Sohar Refinery decarbonization project align with recent industry trends and are covered by other reputable outlets. The narrative includes specific details such as the refinery’s capacity and the scope of Worley’s work, which are consistent with available information. The language and tone are appropriate for the industry and region. No excessive or off-topic details were found.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is original, timely, and consistent with other reputable sources. The quotes are unique, and the source is reliable. The claims are plausible and supported by specific details. No significant credibility risks were identified.
