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…

Exxon, Conoco Both Score Firsts in Baghdad

13 August 2008 US majors are adopting a more aggressive approach toward Iraq. Jim Mulva, chief executive of ConocoPhillips, this month became the highest-ranking US company executive to visit the country since the war, while Exxon Mobil has submitted the first one-year no-fee technical support contract (TSC) to the oil ministry, Iraqi sources said Tuesday. A Conoco spokeswoman in Houston confirmed the visit, Mulva’s first to Iraq. “As customary in…

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 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…