WA-based Fremantle Steel was awarded a nine million dollar contract to provide 4000 tonnes of steel, while Park Engineers were awarded a seven million dollar contract to supply 2800 tonnes.

Woodside Petroleum said Australian companies have won more than $320 million in contracts for the project and this is expected to near a billion dollars by the time the Project is completed in 2004.

"This is another great result for WA fabricators against a field of very competitive tenders from both Australia and overseas," general manager onshore expansion projects Mr Manfred Henze said.

He added the work generated by the project will have a significant impact on an industry which has suffered mixed fortunes recently, and over the next two years the project will account for a substantial part of production from major Australian fabrication shops.