Pipelines Politics

Is Iraq’s foreign policy at the regional and international levels dictated by its position as an oil producer and exporter or is Iraq managing its resources in function of what its alliances and relationships allows it to do? Judging by the past, oil has mostly been a victim of the politics of the regime. This does not only apply to the last one, but goes back as far as the…

Gas Fields Auction

After two delayed dates and three model contracts issued, one of which was withdrawn, Iraq has finally awarded its three gas fields of Akkas, Mansuriah and Siba to small oil companies pushing for a foot in Iraq’s energy sector. Having pre-qualified 13 companies, including France’s Total, Italy’s ENI and Norway’s Statoil, only five companies finally made it to Baghdad on Oct. 20th to participate in Iraq’s 3rd bid round in…

The Four Sisters

After initially announcing three weeks ago that he was setting up Thi Qar Oil Co. in the Nassiriya province, Iraqi Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani seems to have got better advice since, and is now set on creating the Midland Oil Co. to be in charge of the central oil and gas fields. Thi Qar division within SOC will remain in charge of the fields in the province, mainly Nassiriya and…

2nd Bid Round: The Results – 11 December 2009

– MAJNOON OIL FIELD: THE BIDDERS: 1. Royal Dutch Shell (60%) – Petronas (40%) FEE BID: $1.39    PLATEAU: 1,800,000 b/d     SCORE:100 2. Total (57%) – CNPC (43%) FEE BID $1.75    PLATEAU: 1,405,000 b/d       SCORE: 79 Ministry Max Remuneration Fee: not revealed Majnoon contract awarded to SHELL – HALFAYA OIL FIELD: THE BIDDERS: 1. ONGC (50%) – TPAO (30%) Oil India (20%) FEE BID: $1.76  …