RIYADH, (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia’s state oil firm Aramco said on Saturday it had awarded a contract for the Karan gas field to J.Ray McDermott, which is wholly-owned by U.S. engineering and construction firm McDermott International Inc.

Aramco did not give details of the value of the contracts.

Karan will produce 1.5 billion cubic feet per day and is key to meeting a growing gas shortage in the kingdom.