8 August 2008 More than nine months after they were first launched, Iraq’s technical support contracts (TSC) — the first commercial agreements with Big Oil since nationalization in the 1970s — are in limbo. The official view from Baghdad is that the short-term deals are losing their relevance due to protracted negotiations and the possibility that they will overlap with the award of long-term service contracts under the recently launched…
Tag: Royal Dutch Shell
Firms Line Up to Give Iraq Free Services
14 April 2005 The pending appointment of a new government in Iraq — the third since September 2003 — appears unlikely to open the doors to large investments by international oil companies, although the drawing up of a constitution later this year may take them one step closer. But that’s not deterring firms from getting a foot in the door, with some 29 companies signing memorandums of understanding (MOU) with…
Iraq Field Study Attracts Strong Interest
17 August 2004 Despite its deteriorating security situation and unstable future, Iraq managed to attract a strong turnout for a contract to conduct reservoir and engineering studies at its largest two oil fields, Kirkuk and Rumaila. Some 14 bids were submitted from companies in Europe, North America and Australia, a senior Iraqi official said Monday. Iraq in June invited more than 30 companies to participate in the tender, which would…
Iraqi Reservoir Damage May Be Long-Lasting
28 September 2004 Iraq’s leading oil field, Kirkuk, may have suffered irreparable damage to its reservoir as a result of the reinjection of fuel oil, refinery residue and gas-stripped oil over the last 15 years, according to Iraqi industry sources. The reinjected products amount to some 1.5 billion barrels, according to one estimate. The process, which was widespread under the former regime of Saddam Hussein, is still continuing, as Iraq…