Shell’s Upstream Chief Offers His Take on Iraq’s Landmark Bid Round

7 November 2008 Despite its disappointment that Iraqi oil fields it had been studying were opened to international bidding, Royal Dutch Shell says it welcomes the transparent process Iraq has chosen for its first landmark bid round. But the Anglo-Dutch supermajor’s upstream chief, Malcolm Brinded, says he needs to see contract terms before assessing whether the service deals have “long-term robustness” in the absence of a nationwide hydrocarbon law. “It…

Iraq to Send Out Bid Round Packages This Week

28 October 2008 The Iraqi oil ministry is gearing up to send out the initial tender protocol and data packages for the eight oil and gas fields included in its landmark first bid round by the end of this week, and expects international oil companies to pay participation fees for the fields on which they choose to bid by Dec. 31, ministry sources say. Despite the accelerated process, questions persist…

Iraq’s Oil Ministry and KRG Hold Talks on Oil Export Schemes

14 October 2008 Iraq’s oil ministry and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) have held talks in recent weeks that could pave the way to export oil produced in the northern region by international oil companies. They could also possibly open the way for an agreement between the federal government and the KRG on the contested production sharing contracts awarded by the KRG in recent years, Iraqi sources said In the…

Iraq Starts Countdown for Contract Awards

14 October 2008 Iraq’s oil ministry on Monday launched a competition among 35 international oil companies for six of Iraq’s most prized oil fields and two undeveloped gas fields under 20-year service contracts, which Iraqi Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani said he expects to be “finalized and presented to the Iraqi cabinet for ratification before the end of June.” Prequalified companies for Iraq’s first bid round, including all the majors as…