Feb 3 (Reuters) - Oilfield services provider SLB

said on Tuesday it has been ‌awarded a $1.5 billion contract over

five ​years by Kuwait Oil Company for ‍the development of ⁠the

Mutriba field ⁠in the country.

Oil producers in the ‌Middle East, Africa ​and Asia are

seeking to boost inventories, which is ⁠driving exploration and

drilling ‍activity ​in the region, and with it demand for oilfield

services. In ‍December, SLB received a five-year contract to

supply Saudi Aramco services for the energy giant's

unconventional gas fields.

Under the contract, ​SLB ‍will handle design, development and

production management at the ​field.

SLB said the contract builds on its existing subsurface

knowledge of the Mutriba field and will cover the development of

deeper high-pressure, high ​temperature reservoirs with sour

conditions.