Baghdad Rethinks Short-Term Service Deals

11 July 2008 The Iraqi oil ministry has asked Western majors to submit new proposals for technical support contracts (TSC) running for one year, rather than the planned two years — raising questions about the viability of the new deals, industry and Iraqi sources told International Oil Daily this week. Majors were expected to sign two-year TSCs at the end of last month, but Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani put the…

Shell Official in Baghdad for Gas Talks

13 June 2008 A top-ranking Royal Dutch Shell official is in Baghdad this week to discuss a heads of agreement to establish a joint venture to invest in Iraq’s gas sector and process associated gas from southern fields for domestic and export markets, an Iraqi oil source told International Oil Daily Thursday. The talks, the first held in the Iraqi capital by a senior international oil company executive since 2003,…

Iraq Names New Oil Company Chief

27 May 2008 Iraqi Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani has named the director-general of South Oil Co. (SOC), Jabbar al-Luaibi, as a special adviser. Al-Luaibi’s deputy at SOC, Kifah Numan, will take over as the new director-general in the coming days, an Iraqi oil source in Baghdad told International Oil Daily Friday. It is not clear why al-Shahristani moved al-Luaibi, but analysts said it could be because of a power struggle…

Iraq, Oil Majors Conclude Support Talks

13 May 2008 Five oil majors have wrapped up talks with Iraqi oil ministry negotiators on short-term technical support contracts for five oil-producing fields and are now expected to submit their final proposals to the ministry by June, Iraqi oil sources told International Oil Daily Monday. The Iraqi oil ministry is keen to finalize the deals before it launches its first licensing round for long-term development contracts early this summer….