Iraq Nears Support Deals With Oil Majors

15 April 2008 Iraq’s oil ministry expects to sign two deals with two oil majors by the end of the month under the technical support contracts framework approved recently by the Iraqi cabinet, with two other deals expected to follow shortly afterward, Iraqi oil sources told International Oil Daily Monday. The ministry has also named 35 international oil companies it said have prequalified to bid in the upcoming licensing round…

Iraq Turns Spotlight on Natural Gas Projects as Shortages Bite

20 March 2008 The Iraqi oil ministry is tendering a contract to build a pipeline linking the Akkas gas field in northwest Iraq to the Syrian border with the aim of starting exports to Syria within a year of contract award, a senior Iraqi official said Wednesday. Akkas was discovered in the late 1990s, and six wells were drilled there by a Syrian contractor before the US-led invasion in 2003….

Iraq Outlines Details of First Bid Round

11 March 2008 Iraq intends to offer five big producing fields and two small ones in its first bid round, planned for this year, in an attempt to boost output by a significant amount as speedily as possible, a senior government official involved in the process and Iraqi oil ministry sources told International Oil Daily Monday. The fields will be offered on service contracts running for at least 20 years….

Shell Pursues Natural Gas Deal With Iraq

6 March 2008 Royal Dutch Shell has submitted a proposal to the Iraqi oil ministry to produce about 500 million cubic feet per day of gas from major southern oil fields where most associated gas is now flared, Iraqi and industry sources told International Oil Daily this week. The proposal is independent of the two-year technical support contract Shell is negotiating with the ministry to boost output by 100,000 barrels…