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….

Iraq, Shell Target Summer Gas JV Deal

30 April 2008 The Iraqi oil ministry and Royal Dutch Shell aim to sign a preliminary agreement this summer to establish a joint venture to exploit associated gas and channel it for domestic use and export for at least 20 years, Iraqi and industry sources told International Oil Daily this week. Plans include building LNG export facilities. Industry sources estimate investment of $2 billion-$5 billion would be required over the…

ONGC, Pertamina Renegotiate Iraqi Deals

25 April 2008 India’s state Oil and Natural Gas Corp. (ONGC) and Indonesia’s Pertamina recently opened talks with Iraq’s oil ministry about renegotiating exploration contracts signed with the Baath regime before the war in 2003, Iraqi officials told International Oil Daily Thursday. The two companies met with Iraqi ministry officials in Amman last week to adapt the deals to the new model contracts — called Service Exploration and Production Contracts…