Shell Inks Iraqi Gas Deal in Baghdad

23  September 2008 Royal Dutch Shell and Iraq on Monday inked a heads of agreement (HOA) to establish a joint venture to gather, process and market associated natural gas from southern Iraq, and plan to sign a definitive multibillion-dollar deal within a year, Iraqi and industry sources said. Officials from Shell’s gas and power division, headed by Executive Director Linda Cook, traveled to Baghdad on Monday for the signing ceremony,…

Head Named for New Oil Firm in Southern Iraq

11 September 2008 Iraqi Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani has named Ali Muarij, a petroleum engineer from southern Iraq, director-general of Missan Oil Co. (MOC), the first regional operating company to be set up since Iraq National Oil Co. was dismantled in 1987, Iraqi sources told International Oil Daily from Baghdad Wednesday. The cabinet in June approved the creation of MOC to operate all oil fields in Missan province in southern…

Iraqi Oil Veteran to Oversee South

10 September 2008 Iraqi Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani has confirmed the former director-general of South Oil Co. (SOC), Jabbar al-Luaibi, as an advisor with the authority to oversee oil projects in southern Iraq, according to a ministerial order issued last week, a copy of which was obtained by International Oil Daily. Al-Luaibi was removed from his post in May and appointed special adviser in what analysts suspected was a power…

Iraq OKs Preliminary Gas Deal With Shell

9 September 2008 The Iraqi cabinet on Sunday approved a preliminary gas deal between Royal Dutch and South Gas Co. (SGC), giving the green light for detailed negotiations on a final deal expected next year, Iraqi and industry sources said. The deal is a nonbinding heads of agreement (HOA) to establish a joint venture to gather and process associated gas now being flared from Basrah region oil fields in the…