MEED
Perry Williams

Senior Energy Writer Oil & Gas

Market focus: Iran’s unexploited reserves

Supplement: Offshore Oil and Gas
International sanctions and exposure to risk are deterring international investors from participating in new oil and gas ventures in the Islamic republic
Market focus: Pressure focuses Qatar’s priorities

Supplement: Offshore Oil and Gas
With the North field subject to a moratorium until at least 2014, development of other offshore reserves is taking precedence as the country strives to meet domestic demand
Market focus: Pricing slows progress in Egypt

Supplement: Offshore Oil and Gas
Uncertainty over the long-term pricing policy of the Petroleum Ministry is detering potential bidders for Egypt’s offshore blocks
Market focus: Saudi Aramco renews its interest in the kingdom’s offshore production

Supplement: Offshore Oil and Gas
The state-owned oil company has dedicated 10 per cent of its latest capital investment programme to developing the kingdom’s offshore production
Qatalum

2 February 2010, 7:17 GMT
Qatar’s first aluminium smelter project marks the beginning a new, collaborative approach.
Baghdad’s golden oil opportunity

Issue No 2 8-14 January 2010
The winners in Iraq’s oil licensing rounds face stiff challenges in developing the country’s oil fields
Kemya considers bids for Saudi rubber plant

31 December 2009, 12:38 GMT
Petro Steel frontrunner for tank farm package
Qatargas to award retendered recovery deal in January

31 December 2009, 12:37 GMT
Foster Wheeler in pole position to win Ras Laffan gas recovery scheme
Iraq signs Lukoil contract

30 December 2009, 12:37 GMT
Deal to develop Qurna-2 oil field requires cabinet approval
Iraq signs Gazprom oil deal

29 December 2009, 13:48 GMT
Badra field contract still requires cabinet approval
Al-Khafji extends Hout field deadline

29 December 2009, 8:39 GMT
Firm plans to expand Hout oil field facilities
Saudi Aramco awards marine oil and gas exploration deals

29 December 2009, 8:33 GMT
Argas wins two seismic data-gathering contracts worth $400m in total
2009 Review: Regional governments getting tough with foreign energy firms

24 December 2009, 20:47 GMT
The region’s governments are setting increasingly stringent terms for international companies.
Contractors submit bids for Saudi Aramco bulk plant

24 December 2009, 12:53 GMT
Winning company to build tanks, petrol pumps and substations
Contractors submit bids for Saudi rubber plant

21 December 2009, 13:32 GMT
Three companies compete for tank farm package
Energy 2010: Industry starts year in a strong position

Supplement: MEED Yearbook 2010
With oil prices rising, a series of major projects will be launched in the energy sector in the year ahead
Energy 2010: Industry starts year in a strong position

Supplement: MEED Yearbook 2010
With oil prices rising, a series of major projects will be launched in the energy sector in the year ahead
Bidding on Saudi Aramco service deals stalls

18 December 2009, 19:05 GMT
Contractors gain further extension on bidding process for five-year deals
Qatargas delays decision on retendered recovery project

18 December 2009, 12:56 GMT
Ras Laffan Industrial City scheme already delayed because of high construction costs
Aramco awards marine oil and gas exploration deals

Issue no 51 18-24 December 2009
Argas wins two seismic data-gathering contracts worth $400m in total
Contractors express interest in $1.7bn Barzan gas scheme

Issue no 51 18-24 December 2009
At least 10 international firms compete to build facilities in the North field
Gas firms have to look outside Qatar

Issue no 51 18-24 December 2009
As the decade draws to a close, international oil companies (IOCs) and energy contractors working in Qatar have been warned not to expect the state to launch any major gas projects for at least the next five years.
Contractors submit bids for Maaden alumina refinery

17 December 2009, 18:13 GMT
Contract retendered after being awarded to Fluor Corporation
Tasnee submits bid for Jizan refinery

17 December 2009, 17:53 GMT
Red Sea coast refinery is expected to cost $7bn
Saudi Aramco brings forward bid deadline for Yanbu refinery

15 December 2009, 17:06 GMT
Prices for main packages now due on 26 January 2010
Iran denies excluding Total from South Pars development

15 December 2009, 16:54 GMT
Deal involves development of phase 11 of giant gas field
Egypt assesses bids for oil and gas rounds

14 December 2009, 17:20 GMT
Contracts cover 11 exploration blocks
Firms prepare bids for Saudi rubber plant

14 December 2009, 16:29 GMT
Three companies compete for tank farm package
Iraq to boost oil production following contract awards

11 December 2009, 15:56 GMT
Shell and Chinese pledge to raise production by 2.3 million barrels a day
Technip wins $95m Egyptian oil deal

10 December 2009, 17:04 GMT
Contract covers offshore field development
Libya: Casing and tubing

10 December 2009, 16:57 GMT
Supply of casing and tubing. Closing date: 16 December 2009
International gas cartel elects Russian leader

10 December 2009, 16:23 GMT
Qatar-based group controls 70 per cent of world gas reserves
Saudi Arabia to award Jizan refinery deal by end of December

10 December 2009, 16:07 GMT
Firms compete for $7bn project on Red Sea coast
Libya: Supply vessel services

10 December 2009, 15:52 GMT
Supply of two vessels Closing date: 24 December
Dolphin plans to increase gas imports from Qatar

9 December 2009, 19:17 GMT
Abu Dhabi firm and Qatar Petroleum hold talks over pipeline energy supplies
Libya: construction of accommodation facilities

9 December 2009, 14:39 GMT
Engineering, procurement and construction of accommodation and other facilities at El-Feel Onshore Field (Contract Area E). Closing date: 24 December
Libya: 2D Seismic processing support

9 December 2009, 13:08 GMT
Provision of 2D seismic processing support. Closing date: 3 February 2010
Libya: 3D Seismic data acquisition

9 December 2009, 13:01 GMT
Provision of 3D seismic data acquisition services. Closing date: 20 December 2009
Libya: Directional drilling and associated services

9 December 2009, 10:29 GMT
Prequalification for directional drilling and associated services. Closing date: 21 December 2009
Iran: Type F cup type tester and parts for Dynaplex hooks

8 December 2009, 14:52 GMT
Two separate tenders for supply of type F cup type tester and parts for Dynaplex hooks. Bid bond is IR20.675m or €1,610; and IR10.897m or €780; respectively. Closing date: 20 January
Maaden retenders alumina refinery deal

Issue No 50 11-17 December 2009
Bids for construction contract are due on 15 December
Aramco considers bids for Jubail refinery construction deal

Issue No 50 11-17 December 2009
Riyadh firm and Shell aim to meet US refinery emissions regulations
Baghdad oil ministry must calm nerves

Issue No 50 11-17 December 2009
Oil companies have been nervous about whether preliminary agreements will still hold weight if the administration changes
Lukoil-ConocoPhillips to bid for West Qurna-2 oil field

Issue No 50 11-17 December 2009
Russian-US consortium seeks to develop unexploited reserves in Basra
US oil major discovers gas in Libya

7 December 2009, 18:34 GMT
Hess finds fresh hydrocarbons after initial drilling in Sirte basin in 2008
Iran: Supply of high-carbon ferro-manganese

7 December 2009, 17:52 GMT
Supply of high-carbon ferro-manganese. New closing date: 15 December 2009
Iran tender: Supply of fouling resistance membrane

7 December 2009, 17:49 GMT
Supply of fouling resistance membrane (FRM) or low fouling composite (LEC), RO membrane element.Closing date: 17 December
Saudi Aramco blames high construction costs for Manifa delay

7 December 2009, 17:09 GMT
State firm expects to produce 900,000 barrels a day of crude
Doha invests in boosting wastewater capacity

Supplement: Gulf Wastewater
With a rapidly growing population and a buoyant economy, Qatar is investing heavily in improving its wastewater infrastructure, planning a series of new facilities along with upgrades to existing plants
Muscat modernises the wastewater network

Supplement: Gulf Wastewater
The five government bodies responsible for the wastewater sector in Oman are building a series of treatment plants across the country, as the state moves away from a reliance on septic tanks
Qatar oil production hits 1 million barrels a day

3 December 2009, 18:26 GMT
Enhanced crude recovery techniques boost output
Saudi Aramco to complete Manifa oil project by 2015

3 December 2009, 15:40 GMT
State firm expects to produce 900,000 barrels a day of crude
Qatargas delivers supplies to Canada

3 December 2009, 15:04 GMT
State firm ships liquefied natural gas to New Brunswick terminal
Contractors line up for Yanbu solids handling package

Issue No 49 4-10 December 2009
Ten firms bid for $450m Saudi Aramco refinery work
French and Japanese front runners on Qatar gas deal

Issue No 49 4-10 December 2009
Technip and JGC Corporation bid for $1.2bn liquefied natural gas work
Iraq to award Zubair and West Qurna oil deals

Issue No 49 4-10 December 2009
Cabinet resolves technical issues affecting approval of contracts
State considers oil price benchmark switch

Issue No 49 4-10 December 2009
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation could follow Saudi Aramco in abandoning West Texas Intermediate pricing
Technip bids low for Dukhan and Mesaieed upgrade deal

Issue No 49 4-10 December 2009
Winning firm to carry out construction work on $1bn Qatar Petroleum project
Aramco refines its energy pricing policy

Issue No 49 4-10 December 2009
The state energy giant’s decision to drop its long-standing US pricing benchmark could herald a wider change in oil pricing both in the Middle East and on Asian exchanges
Oil buyers can force change in the region

Issue No 49 4-10 December 2009
More Gulf states are expected to follow Saudi Arabia’s switch to the Argus sour crude benchmark
Sinopec to approach firms to prequalify for Iranian oil field bid

1 December 2009, 17:57 GMT
Chinese will award engineering, procurement and construction deal by 31 December
UK firm in administration over dispute with Maersk Oil Qatar

1 December 2009, 13:05 GMT
SLP Engineering contract covers offshore Al-Shaheen oil field work
Iran approaches contractors over South Pars drilling work

1 December 2009, 12:26 GMT
Project covers offshore oil and gas wells
Sterling Energy to start drilling in Kurdistan in December

1 December 2009, 11:14 GMT
Potential reserves of 804 million barrels available in Sangaw North Block
Contractors prepare bids for Saudi Aramco bulk plant

26 November 2009, 16:46 GMT
Winning company to build tanks, petrol pumps and substations
Heritage Oil starts Kurdistan drilling work

26 November 2009, 16:43 GMT
UK firm plans to produce 4 billion barrels a day of oil in Miran West 2
Shell revises cost of Pearl gas-to-liquids plant in Qatar

26 November 2009, 16:20 GMT
Facility set to cost between $18bn and $19bn
Iran restarts talks with Oman on Kish gas development

25 November 2009, 17:39 GMT
Financing issues delay project by one year
Iraq ready to sign oil deal with Japanese firms

25 November 2009, 16:02 GMT
Contract covers short-term development of Nasiriyah field
Heritage Oil cancels merger with Genel Energy

25 November 2009, 15:53 GMT
UK firm raises doubts over Kurdistan export payment mechanism
Contractors submit bids for $1bn Qatar gas upgrade project

Issue No 48 27 November - 3 December 2009
Qatar Petroleum assessing bids for Dukhan and Mesaieed facilities
Qatar Petroleum invites firms to express interest in Barzan gas field

Issue No 48 27 November - 3 December 2009
Plan to develop offshore structure in North field
Shell awards service deals at Pearl gas-to-liquids facility

Issue No 48 27 November - 3 December 2009
US’ Fluor and local Madina Group pick up five-year contracts at Ras Laffan
Dubai needs a debt strategy

Issue No 48 27 November - 3 December 2009
The lack of transparency over Dubai’s ability to manage its debt remains a major concern
Zamil and Petrofac to create service centre in Saudi Arabia

24 November 2009, 15:58 GMT
Al-Khobar facility set to open in early 2010
Saudi Aramco awards pipeline construction work to Dutch firm

23 November 2009, 17:05 GMT
Nacap-Suedrohrbau won engineering and design deal in April
Shell delays deadlines for Qatar gas schemes

23 November 2009, 16:40 GMT
Pearl and Qatargas 4 projects to be completed at the end of 2010
Petrobras considers withdrawal from Iran oil exploration

18 November 2009, 17:56 GMT
Brazilian firm planned to develop Caspian Sea acreage
Iraq delays oil deals

17 November 2009, 18:00 GMT
Contracts cover development of Zubair and West Qurna fields
Saudi Aramco starts oil production at Chinese refinery

17 November 2009, 16:53 GMT
State-run firm to build refineries capable of handling heavier grades of crude
Qatargas to supply gas to China

17 November 2009, 16:00 GMT
Doha signs deal to export five million tonnes a year of liquefied natural gas to state energy firms
Qatar Petroleum invites gas exploration bids

17 November 2009, 15:33 GMT
State-run firm explores areas outside North field
Aramco and Dow to invite Ras Tanura dredging bids

Issue No 47 20-26 November 2009
Firms to submit prices for construction deal on $20bn oil and petrochemicals refinery
Barzan appoints bank to raise $8bn

Issue No 47 20-26 November 2009
Qatar Petroleum and ExxonMobil will seek project finance for North field gas development in 2010
SaudConsult in dual role with rival firms

Issue No 47 20-26 November 2009
Saudi contractor forms joint venture with Technip and team of SNC Lavalin and Jacobs Engineering
Technip-Chiyoda team bids low for $1.2bn Qatargas deal

Issue No 47 20-26 November 2009
Winning bidder to help maintain liquefied gas output
Barzan offers welcome boost for contractors seeking deals in Qatar

Issue No 47 20-26 November 2009
Contract-hungry firms that fail to win the Barzan job could face a long wait before new gas schemes from the North field are tendered
Bahrain creates joint venture to develop oil field

12 November 2009, 17:24 GMT
National Oil and Gas Authority will triple output
Modern Water starts Omani desalination plant output

12 November 2009, 17:15 GMT
Project produces fresh water while cutting power and operating costs
Iraq to approve oil field deals

12 November 2009, 16:41 GMT
Contracts cover development of Zubair and West Qurna fields
Qatar buys stake in petrochemicals deals in Singapore

12 November 2009, 10:59 GMT
State-run energy company in joint venture with Shell
Aramco to launch lube refinery upgrade

Issue No 46 13-19 November 2009
Joint venture with Jadwa Industrial Investment approaches contractors about expansion in 2010
Kharafi National bids low for gas deal

Issue No 46 13-19 November 2009
Second phase of Kuwait Oil Company’s field upgrade is aimed at more than tripling production capacity
Oman to launch Duqm refinery study

Issue No 46 13-19 November 2009
Petrochemicals complex will be one of the largest schemes in the Gulf
Takreer considers bids for refinery work

Issue No 46 13-19 November 2009
South Korean firms dominate line-up of companies competing for contracts to expand Ruwais facility
Borouge invites firms to bid for $4.5bn Ruwais expansion

Issue No 46 13-19 November 2009
Polymers company offers engineering and construction deals worth $4.5bn
Saudi Aramco and Sumitomo to make Rabigh expansion decision in 2010

9 November 2009, 18:05 GMT
Firms to complete feasibility study in 2010
Swiss firm secures oil pipeline work in Emirates

9 November 2009, 17:11 GMT
Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline to transport crude from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah
Saudi Aramco awards Ghawar drilling deal to Halliburton

9 November 2009, 14:46 GMT
Contract covers engineering and management work on world’s largest oil field
Abu Dhabi - Keeping up with hotel demand

6 November 2009, 17:05 GMT
Despite a series of major hotel openings, many more rooms will be needed if Abu Dhabi is to able to deal with the projected growth in visitor numbers.
Yas Island - Mixing business and leisure

6 November 2009, 17:03 GMT
The island is being transformed through major tourism projects such as Ferrari World, combined with a series of new hotels offering conference and exhibition facilities.
ExxonMobil and Shell to develop Iraqi oil field

5 November 2009, 18:09 GMT
Ministry awards 20-year West Qurna contract
Al-Bayroni awards Jubail ammonia plant deal to US contractor

5 November 2009, 17:29 GMT
KBR to provide engineering, procurement and supply services
Air Liquide wins Qatar gas plant contract

5 November 2009, 17:02 GMT
Qatar Petroleum and Sasol award Oryx construction work
Saudi Aramco delays deadline for Wasea bulk plant bids

5 November 2009, 16:03 GMT
Winning contractor to build tanks, petrol pumps and substations
South Korean firms secure $5.2bn Ruwais refinery deals

5 November 2009, 10:19 GMT
SK Engineering & Construction and GS Engineering & Construction win oil expansion contracts
Taqa awards gas storage building deal to Fluor

3 November 2009, 16:12 GMT
Contractor to build a gas compression and treatment facility at Bergermeer
Iraq signs $15bn Rumaila deal with oil firms

3 November 2009, 15:39 GMT
BP and China National Petroleum Corporation secure 20-year contract
Qatar Petroleum awards three in-house consultancy deals

Issue No 45 6-12 November 2009
Technip, WorleyParsons and Petrofac will work across energy firm’s portfolio
Qatar Petroleum delays bids for gas upgrade work

Issue No 45 6-12 November 2009
State firm finalising front-end engineering and design at Dukhan and Mesaieed
Qatargas considers bids for retendered recovery project

Issue No 45 6-12 November 2009
Ras Laffan Industrial City scheme was delayed because of high construction costs
Saudi Aramco set to award Yanbu refinery work to US firm

Issue No 45 6-12 November 2009
Deal covers procurement of compressor and turbine driver
In-house energy deals in the region make sense

Issue No 45 6-12 November 2009
Seeking outside help to smooth the engineering process is the right path for Qatar and other Gulf states
Saudi Aramco delays Manifa oil field production until 2013

2 November 2009, 17:14 GMT
State firm extends deadline because of excess capacity
Iraq awards Zubair oil deal

2 November 2009, 16:49 GMT
Eni, Occidental Petroleum and Korea Gas secure Basra field licence
Manama to boost capacity of refinery at Sitra oil field

30 October 2009, 16:44 GMT
Bahrain is to expand capacity at its sole refinery by up to 200,000 barrels a day (b/d) to deal with an expected increase in oil output over the next 20 years.
Srak to return to Kidan for final well

30 October 2009, 16:24 GMT
Joint venture will complete its gas exploration campaign in the Empty Quarter in July 2010
Iraq plans to sign deals with oil companies

30 October 2009, 12:33 GMT
Ministry to award licence to develop Zubair and ratify Rumaila contract
Qatargas awards Ras Laffan deal to Kentz Group

29 October 2009, 17:11 GMT
UK company to build receiving and loading facility
Bahrain Petroleum Company appoints chief

29 October 2009, 16:38 GMT
National Oil and Gas Authority implements succession plan after head of firm retires
Finding the fuel for Bahraini growth

29 October 2009, 14:50 GMT
Bahrain has made great strides in developing its industrial base, but securing the energy resources needed to power further projects has become a pressing concern
Qatargas awards liquefied gas deal to US firm

28 October 2009, 18:29 GMT
GE Oil & Gas to build and deploy pipeline management system
Aramco invites bids for Jubail construction deal

28 October 2009, 16:13 GMT
Saudi firm and Shell aim to meet US refinery emissions regulations
Qatar Petroleum delays $1bn gas facilities bid deadline

28 October 2009, 11:34 GMT
State firm finalising front-end engineering and design at Dukhan and Mesaieed
Saudi Arabia extends bidding on Jizan refinery

27 October 2009, 17:23 GMT
Contractors request more time to structure consortiums
Libya reinstates Ghanem as oil chief

27 October 2009, 15:37 GMT
Former chairman returns to original position
Four contractors submit bids for $1.2bn Qatargas deal

27 October 2009, 15:14 GMT
Winning bidder to help maintain liquefied gas output
Technip to open Iraqi office

27 October 2009, 14:55 GMT
Contractor plans to secure oil and gas construction work
Jordan signs exploration deal with BP

26 October 2009, 17:50 GMT
UK company to produce and export gas from Risha field
Saudi Aramco awards deals for seismic studies

26 October 2009, 15:02 GMT
BGP Arabia to gather data on Empty Quarter, Red Sea and Manifa reserves
Aramco gives joint ventures more time

23 October 2009, 17:10 GMT
Contractors gain extension on bidding process for five-year deals
Chiyoda and Technip renew partnership

23 October 2009, 17:04 GMT
Japanese and French firms renegotiate terms of joint venture as work on liquefied natural gas trains ends
Baghdad unveils plan to lift output

23 October 2009, 17:02 GMT
Oil Ministry hopes to raise output to 3.5 million barrels a day
Aramco sets first Karan gas field production target

22 October 2009, 17:52 GMT
Gas due online by mid 2011
Gulf Keystone issues new Kurdistan oil reserves number

22 October 2009, 17:50 GMT
Reserves update follows independent evaluation
Bahrain to drill new wells in gas boost

22 October 2009, 16:18 GMT
State-run firm aims to boost gas production by over a third
Creating a single point of access in GCC health

20 October 2009, 15:59 GMT
With growing demand for medical treatment, GCC governments are trying to improve the efficiency of their systems by setting up primary healthcare centres.
Investing in healthcare infrastructure

20 October 2009, 15:43 GMT
A series of multi-million-dollar government and private sector projects will help to improve healthcare standards across the Gulf, but the region still lags behind the West in spending terms.
Doha should compromise over contracting model

Issue No 43 23-29 October 2009
Contractors must now press Qatar to show more flexibility in its contracting model
Aramco meets contractors for $100m Ras Tanura deal

16 October 2009, 14:58 GMT
Marine package is first construction contract on $20bn refinery scheme
Chevron wins deal to plan refinery boost

16 October 2009, 14:54 GMT
Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) has awarded a consultancy deal to the US’ Chevron Lummus Global to masterplan a 100,000-barrel-a-day (b/d) capacity upgrade at the country’s sole oil refinery
Al-Suwaidi wins Aramco storage plant deal

16 October 2009, 13:40 GMT
State-run oil company Saudi Aramco has awarded a $200m contract to the local MS Al-Suwaidi Industrial Services Company to upgrade 14 bulk storage plants
Baghdad to award short-term deals to boost oil production

16 October 2009, 13:11 GMT
The Iraqi government plans to award a series of short-term contracts to increase production at five of its oil fields
Al-Suwaidi fronrunner for Aramco gas deal

16 October 2009, 10:56 GMT
Contractor to upgrade acid piping system at Shedgum processing plant
Morocco signs phosphate deal with Jacobs Engineering

15 October 2009, 19:05 GMT
Office Cherifien des Phosphates seeks project management services
Iraq denies delay in second bid round

15 October 2009, 18:19 GMT
Bids from oil majors remain scheduled for December 2009
Al-Khafji extends bid deadline for Divided Zone deals

15 October 2009, 15:58 GMT
Firm plans to expand oil and water facilities
Iran awards South Pars gas sweetening contract

13 October 2009, 17:10 GMT
Korean and Iranian companies secure $1.4bn deal to build plant
Dana Gas finds reserves in Egypt

13 October 2009, 14:58 GMT
Company increases oil production by 20 per cent in 2009
Iran claims talks resume over South Pars gas development

12 October 2009, 17:39 GMT
Total refuses to comment on Tehran’s statement
Consortium buys Qatar engineering firm

12 October 2009, 16:27 GMT
Shipping firm sells Q-Con to local and Bahraini companies
Contractors prepare bids for Qatargas maintenance work

9 October 2009, 15:12 GMT
Qatar Liquefied Gas Company (Qatargas) has set a 25 October deadline for commercial construction bids for its $1.2bn plateau-maintenance project
Daelim frontrunner for South Pars gas deal

8 October 2009, 17:25 GMT
Consortium set to win engineering, procurement and construction work
Qatar and Turkey sign energy co-operation agreement

8 October 2009, 17:07 GMT
Memorandum covers potential projects and supply of liquefied gas
Saudi Aramco invites Wasea bulk plant bids

8 October 2009, 15:40 GMT
State oil firm set to award contract in December
Azzawiya to retender Libyan lube oil blending plant upgrade

Issue No 41 9-15 October 2009
State-owned refining company seeks fresh bids after attracting little interest
Qatar Petroleum set to award consultancy deal

Issue No 41 9-15 October 2009
Qatar Petroleum (QP) is expected to award a three-year engineering service consultancy contract covering all of its projects by the end of October
Gulf Keystone discovers oil in Kurdistan

7 October 2009, 12:47 GMT
Potential of finding light oil in Shaikan Block increases
Gulf denies plan to end trading oil in dollars

6 October 2009, 17:45 GMT
GCC currency will form part of new basket, claims report
Iraq and Norway resolve dispute over oil exports

6 October 2009, 16:07 GMT
Kurdistan Regional Government allows exploration firm to restart operations
Iraq prepares workshop for second oil bid round

5 October 2009, 17:12 GMT
Terms of contracts to be sent to oil companies
Qatar bank denies signing Iranian oil investment deal

5 October 2009, 14:49 GMT
Tehran plans to triple production at Esfandiar and Forouzan fields
Libya appoints oil corporation chief

1 October 2009, 15:49 GMT
Announcement follows departure of Shokri Ghanem
Petrocon Arabia and Al-Mojil complete Ras Tanura upgrade

1 October 2009, 12:18 GMT
Three islands provide berths for oil tankers
Saudi Aramco helps engineering partners list on bourse

Issue No 40 2-8 October 2009
Joint venture companies could list on Tadawul by 2015
Saudi Aramco must rethink capital maket listings

Issue No 40 2-8 October 2009
Energy major wants international firms seeking contracts to consider local initial public offerings. Large contractors are simply not willing to risk their reputations
Qatar to award Dukhan gas deal to Galfar al-Misnad

Issue No 40 2-8 October 2009
State firm to set up glycol-regeneration trains
Saudi Aramco close to awarding Yanbu refinery supply deals

Issue No 40 2-8 October 2009
The four separate contracts worth $500m include procurement of long-lead equipment
Kurdistan government holds talks over Norwegian share sale dispute

29 September 2009, 18:04 GMT
Oslo bourse says Iraqi authorities are not under investigation
Saudi Aramco awards Shaybah contract

29 September 2009, 14:52 GMT
Deal covers natural gas liquids project in Empty Quarter
Iran plans South Pars gas funding deal by December

28 September 2009, 16:59 GMT
Parliament set to approve bond regulations
Qatargas starts Laffan refinery production

28 September 2009, 16:52 GMT
Facility to produce 146,000 barrels a day of condensate gas
Iran and Venezuela sign Syrian refinery deal

25 September 2009, 11:29 GMT
Contract covers construction of $1.5bn oil project
Saudi Aramco seeks best price for Jubail finance

Issue No 39 25 September - 1 October 2009
State-owned oil company and France’s Total have secured the banking commitments needed to finance their $9.6bn refinery at Jubail in Saudi Arabia, bankers close to the deal tell MEED
Yemen invites bids for Ras Issa terminal

Issue No 39 25 September - 1 October 2009
State-run upstream energy firm Sepoc to replace ageing offshore facility on country’s Red Sea coast
Iran's economic headache

Issue No 39 25 September - 1 October 2009
Declining oil revenues rather than UN sanctions are the biggest barriers to economic revival
Saudi Aramco to award $300m deal to upgrade storage facilities

Issue No 39 25 September - 1 October 2009
State-owned oil company will award a $300m contract to expand 12 bulk storage plants within days
Bandar Abbas refinery stalls as Iran faces cash shortfall

24 September 2009, 18:07 GMT
Condensates facility delayed after $1bn funding issue
Police probe Norwegian firm after share sale

24 September 2009, 15:58 GMT
DNO International’s deal with Turkish firm hits its Kurdistan operations
Oil India approaches firms for Libyan drilling deals

23 September 2009, 17:18 GMT
Contractors to drill four exploratory wells in Sirte Basin
BP set to complete Libyan offshore seismic work

23 September 2009, 16:45 GMT
Drilling scheduled to start in June 2010
Kuwait Energy signs $50m World Bank loan

23 September 2009, 16:30 GMT
Financing plan to develop assets in Egypt and Yemen
Norwegian firm's shares frozen after disagreement over Iraqi oil field

23 September 2009, 12:30 GMT
Kurdistan Regional Government bans DNO International operations for six weeks
Iran invites interest in Abouzar oil field deal

22 September 2009, 16:41 GMT
Offshore company invites contractors to prequalify for wellhead platforms tender
UK firms boost Syrian oil output

22 September 2009, 15:31 GMT
Emerald Energy and Gulfsands Petroleum increase production
Saudi Aramco awards gas work to Canadian firm

21 September 2009, 18:03 GMT
Font-end engineering and design deal covers plant development in Eastern Province
Baker Hughes set to win Saudi drilling project

21 September 2009, 15:48 GMT
Saudi Aramco contract covers construction of 145 oils wells
Iran to increase production at Aghajari oil field

21 September 2009, 15:30 GMT
Company launches contract to install production units
Libya buys Verenex Energy

21 September 2009, 15:12 GMT
Tripoli forces Chinese oil company to withdraw offer for Canadian firm
Firms set to prequalify for oil scheme in Divided Zone

18 September 2009, 9:55 GMT
Khafji Joint Operations seeks contractor to project manage expansion scheme
Saudi Aramco to make two key gas awards by end of September

Issue No 38 18 - 24 September 2009
SNC Lavalin and KBR in line for deals at Arabiyah and Shaybah fields
Scottish firm secures Gulf oil and gas deals

17 September 2009, 19:38 GMT
Range of contracts cover drilling equipment
Libya approves $10bn plan for oil fields

17 September 2009, 18:48 GMT
Government corporation to finance development using bank loans
Oman awards solar power deal to WorleyParsons

17 September 2009, 18:39 GMT
Public Authority for Electricity & Water to develop plant as independent power project
Fluor completes $1.5bn RasGas contract

16 September 2009, 18:37 GMT
Project covers construction of utilities, loading facilities and tanks
Saudi Aramco boosts security systems

16 September 2009, 17:45 GMT
State oil giant will use firearm simulation technology to train staff
Saudi Aramco awards Manifa oil work to Sumitomo

14 September 2009, 18:17 GMT
Deal covers engineering, procurement and construction of communications systems
Agility wins Qatar gas logistics contract

14 September 2009, 17:48 GMT
RasGas deal covers forwarding, transportation and custom clearance services
Kentz Group secures Qatar gas contract

14 September 2009, 17:21 GMT
UK firm to replace glycol regeneration trains at Dukhan plant
Libya: Well bore cleanout services

7 September 2009, 15:27 GMT
Provision of well bore cleanout services for BP. Closing date: 11 September 2009
Libya: Waste management

3 September 2009, 13:46 GMT
Provision of waste management for an onshore exploration well. Closing date: 6 September 2009
Saudi Aramco has to invest in gas

Sep 2009 Online Content
Aramco has rightly switched its attention to diversifying its sources of gas. The Shaybah and Arabiyah schemes are well overdue
Gulf Keystone raises Iraqi oil field reserve estimate

28 August 2009, 11:10 GMT
Energy major expects Shaikan Block to provide 3 billion barrels
Abu Dhabi enters talks over Habshan gas recovery project

Issue No 35 28 August - 3 September 2009
State-owned gas operator Abu Dhabi Gas Industries Company (Gasco) is in talks with international engineering firms over a deal to design and manage a gas injection and carbon dioxide recovery project
Aluminium Bahrain to decide on production train by the end of the year

Issue No 35 28 August - 3 September 2009
Plan would boost aluminium production capacity to 1.2 million tonnes a year
Riyadh and Kuwait expand Divided Zone oil facilities

Issue No 35 28 August - 3 September 2009
Joint venture invites contractors to prequalify for bidding on onshore processing upgrade by 28 September
Aramco boosts capacity at remote Shaybah oil field

27 August 2009, 19:01 GMT
Oil giant completes three-year expansion and construction programme
Libya: Hi-Line cleaning and maintenance

27 August 2009, 13:28 GMT
Provision of Hi-Line cleaning and maintenance for Waha Oil Company. Closing date: 10 September 2009
Egypt starts gas production from North Bardawil field

27 August 2009, 11:26 GMT
International Egyptian Oil Company holds 60 per cent stake in concession
Mustang Engineering buys stake in Saudi energy joint venture

27 August 2009, 6:54 GMT
US services company targets engineering and project management deals
Mitsubishi joins Shell gas deal in Iraq

25 August 2009, 12:32 GMT
Deal will result in firms gathering gas from major southern fields
Iraq relaxes oil licence terms

25 August 2009, 6:55 GMT
Companies baulked at ministry’s tough bargaining stance in first bidding round
Tender Libya: Wireless telemetry system

24 August 2009, 17:03 GMT
Provision of a wireless telemetry system for real time well test downhole data acquisition and sampler actuation services. Closing date: 31 August 2009
Iran to review nominations for oil minister

24 August 2009, 13:56 GMT
Ahmadinejad wants Commerce Minister to take on role
Iran approves North Azadegan oil deal

24 August 2009, 13:07 GMT
China National Petroleum Corporation to develop field holding 6 billion barrels of crude
Energy majors prepare for Iraq oil roadshow

24 August 2009, 6:56 GMT
Iraq’s Oil Ministry will launch its second oil licensing round in Istanbul on 25 August with 45 qualified companies invited to attend.
Baghdad presses on with energy sector reforms

Issue No 34 21 - 27 August 2009
Undeterred by the poor response to its first post-war oil licensing round, Baghdad is moving ahead with the wider reform of the sector and the award of fresh development projects.
Contractors vie for Saudi Aramco clean fuels contract

Issue No 34 21 - 27 August 2009
Aramco approaches firms to bid for deal to build ultra-low-sulphur diesel unit at its Jubail refinery.
Contractors work on bids for final Yanbu refinery packages

Issue No 34 21 - 27 August 2009
International contractors are preparing bids for the final main construction and management deals at the $10bn-plus Yanbu export refinery.
Saudi Aramco plans Wasea bulk plant project

Issue No 34 21 - 27 August 2009
State-run oil company Saudi Aramco is approaching contractors to build a bulk plant at Wasea, southeast of Riyadh in the central region of the kingdom.
Sirte reviews gas plant upgrade in Libya after contractors cancel bids

14 August 2009, 16:59 GMT
The state-run Sirte Oil Company (SOC) has launched a fresh review of the first phase of its scheme to upgrade Libya's only liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant after several contractors cancelled their bids to build the facility.
Saudi Aramco increases capacities of planned gas facilities

14 August 2009, 16:32 GMT
State-run energy giant Saudi Aramco has revised the scope of two of its largest planned gas plants as contractors prepare to bid for the schemes, which are intended to boost the kingdom's production.
Doha launches expansion of Ras Laffan condensate plant

14 August 2009, 16:22 GMT
State to double refinery capacity following boost in output from North field.
Maersk Oil appoints Qatar manager as chief executive officer

13 August 2009, 16:22 GMT
Denmark's Maersk Oil has appointed the group's Qatar head as chief executive officer (CEO) following the resignation of incumbent Thomas Thune Andersen.
Bahrain awards Sitra engineering deal to Chevron Lummus Global

13 August 2009, 13:43 GMT
Bahrain has awarded an engineering services deal to the US' Chevron Lummus Global for its lube base oil refinery at Sitra.
RasGas boosts gas output

13 August 2009, 13:07 GMT
Qatar's Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company (RasGas) has started producing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from train six, boosting the company's overall output to 28.5 million tonnes a year (t/y).
Teikoku Oil to issue Libyan drilling tender

12 August 2009, 16:40 GMT
Japan's Teikoku Oil Company will issue a tender covering the provision of a drilling rig and associated services as part of its exploration work in Libya's Ghadames basin.
BP prepares tender for Libyan oil exploration work

12 August 2009, 15:53 GMT
At least six companies have submitted expressions of interest to the UK's BP for a well service contract as part of the firm's drilling campaign in Libya's offshore Sirte and Ghadames basins.
Qatar delivers gas to Italian terminal

12 August 2009, 15:16 GMT
Qatar has delivered its first gas shipment to Italy's new offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal as part of a 25-year supply agreement.
Iran: Supply of rotary hose rubber

12 August 2009, 6:55 GMT
Supply of rotary hose rubber, Bowen and oil well draw-workers parts. Closing date: 6 October 2009
Iran: Mud logging unit leasing

12 August 2009, 6:54 GMT
Leasing mud logging units. The services period will be for five years. Closing date: 12 September 2009Open for local and foreign companies.Bid bond is IR 43m or € 3,000.Tender no 3244-33/6-SS/88.Details, from National Iranian Drilling Company, National Iranian Oil Company, Room 122, Contracts Department, Beginning of Pasdaran Boulevard, Kooyee Mellat, Ahwaz, fax (98611) 4443795, email ahkarimi@nide.ir, website www.shana.ir, www.nide.ir.
Qatar:Electric golf carts

12 August 2009, 6:54 GMT
Supply of six electric golf carts for Qatar Petroleum.Closing date: 28 September 2009Open for authorised companies.Fee is QAR100.Tender no STC/ST09MT0131Details from Materials Department, Qatar Navigation Plaza Building, C Ring Road, Ground Floor, Room No 30, Doha, Qatar.
Libya approaches contractors for Al-Jurf oil field

11 August 2009, 16:14 GMT
Libya's state-run energy company Mabruk Oil Operations is asking companies to express their interest in an engineering and procurement deal covering the second-phase development of its Al-Jurf oil field, 160 kilometres northwest of Tripoli.
Jordan to finalise BP gas deal by end of August

11 August 2009, 14:03 GMT
Jordan expects to finalise an exploration deal for its Risha gas field with the UK's BP by the end of August.
Gazprom invites interest in Libyan oil block

11 August 2009, 13:33 GMT
Gazprom Libya has invited companies to prequalify for a contract to supply onshore well testing equipment at Block 64 in Libya's Ghadames basin.
Iraq appoints acting director general at South Oil Company

10 August 2009, 15:49 GMT
Iraq's Oil Ministry has appointed Dhiya Jaafar as acting director general of the state-run South Oil Company (SOC) following the departure of Fayad Nema.
Tehran issues well tender for South Pars gas development

10 August 2009, 12:28 GMT
The state-run National Iranian Drilling Company (NIDC) is inviting contractors to bid for a well completion services contract after winning a $1bn contract last year covering drilling on phases 17-18 of the South Pars gas field development.
Burullus produces gas from Egyptian offshore field

10 August 2009, 12:01 GMT
Burullus Gas Company has produced its first gas from the Sequoia field, located 90 kilometres off the coast of Egypt in the Mediterranean Sea.
Energy major signs three-year contract for Risha gas field

7 August 2009, 15:35 GMT
UK's BP to produce and export hard to extract gas from site near Iraqi border.
Amman needs foreign help

7 August 2009, 14:28 GMT
The fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003 was an economic disaster for Jordan. When the former Iraqi leader's reign ended, Jordan's supply of oil at preferential prices from its neighbour dried up.
Amman unlocks energy potential

7 August 2009, 12:10 GMT
The kingdom plans to exploit its huge oil shale reserves to help end its reliance on imports.
Aramco signs deal to create Dammam energy park

6 August 2009, 17:28 GMT
State-owned oil company Saudi Aramco has signed a memorandum of understanding with Oilfield Service Contracting Company (Oscc) to establish a new energy park in the Eastern Province city of Dammam.
Gulf Keystone makes Kurdistan oil find

6 August 2009, 12:59 GMT
UK-based Gulf Keystone Petroleum has made an oil discovery at its Shaikan 1 exploration well located 85 kilometres northwest of Erbil in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.
KBR wins Yanbu refinery utilities deal

6 August 2009, 12:32 GMT
State-owned oil company Saudi Aramco and US oil major ConocoPhillips have awarded an engineering and procurement deal to US contractor KBR for work on its planned 400,000 barrel-a-day (b/d) Yanbu refinery on the Red Sea coast.
Iran invites bids for seismic study

5 August 2009, 16:49 GMT
Iran's Pars Oil and Gas Company (POGC) is inviting contractors to bid for the tender to gather 3D seismic data for the Golshan and Ferdows gas fields in the south of the country.
Fire kills contractors near Khursaniyah gas plant

5 August 2009, 16:00 GMT
Greek contractor Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC) has confirmed several people have died following a fire on 2 August at its residential camp located near Saudi Aramco's Khursaniyah gas plant.
Iran to elect new oil minister

5 August 2009, 13:34 GMT
Tehran is excluding the incumbent oil minister from a shortlist of candidates in line to take up the role in President Ahmadinejad's recently re-elected administration.
US contractors target offshore energy deals

4 August 2009, 16:18 GMT
Two US energy contractors have created a new consortium to bid for offshore oil and gas projects in the Middle East and North Africa.
Jordan reviews oil block auction

4 August 2009, 13:23 GMT
Jordan's state-run Natural Resources Authority (NRA) will look again at whether it can auction off two large oil blocks after failing to receive any bids by its 2 July deadline.
Kurdistan to take stake in merged exploration company

4 August 2009, 12:47 GMT
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is to acquire a 17 per cent stake in a UK/Turkish company that is searching for oil in northern Iraq.
China wins South Azedegan oil field contract in Iran

3 August 2009, 15:21 GMT
National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) have signed a deal to develop the South Azadegan oil field, which holds more than 5 billion barrels of crude.
Dana Gas discovers fresh gas reserves in Egypt

3 August 2009, 13:42 GMT
The UAE's Dana Gas has made two discoveries with gas reserves totalling 76 billion cubic feet in the Nile Delta region of Egypt.
Aramco and Shell discover gas in Empty Quarter

3 August 2009, 13:16 GMT
Saudi Aramco and the UK/Dutch Shell Group have discovered gas from the Kidan structure in Saudi Arabia's Rub al-Khali (Empty Quarter) following drilling work.
Baghdad to develop unwanted gas fields

31 July 2009, 18:19 GMT
Iraq National Oil Company is being revived after licensing round fails to attract foreign energy majors.
Falling oil output threatens gas plants

31 July 2009, 17:38 GMT
Qatar Petroleum seeks contractor for feasibility study that could lead to Mesaieed facilities being closed.
Licence terms must be fairer

31 July 2009, 16:46 GMT
The friction between state-run oil companies and their international counterparts has reached new depths. Several countries around the region have offered new gas acreage to international oil companies (IOCs), but their reluctance to improve licensing conditions is undermining their plans to increase output.
The Gulf's gas challenge

31 July 2009, 12:43 GMT
State producers are struggling to attract foreign energy majors to bid for a series of exploration deals.
Gulf Keystone denies takeover rumours

30 July 2009, 16:38 GMT
UK-based oil exploration company Gulf Keystone Petroleum has denied rumours it is in talks with a joint venture of Indian Oil Corporation and Oil India about a takeover of the company.
Petrobras hits Libyan oil well snag

30 July 2009, 12:31 GMT
Brazilian oil major Petrobras and Australian energy firm Oil Search have been forced for a second time to bypass an obstruction in their first offshore well in Area 18 of Libya.
Saipem cuts $140m in revenues on Manifa oil field project

29 July 2009, 18:15 GMT
Italy's Saipem, parent company of Snamprogetti, has cut its projected revenues on a construction deal at the Manifa oil field by $140m after renegotiating costs with the client Saudi Aramco, according to its half-year results.
Saudi Aramco and Shell formulate Kidan gas plan

29 July 2009, 13:46 GMT
Saudi Aramco and the UK/Dutch Shell Group are to submit a plan to the oil ministry to develop the Kidan gas structure in the Rub al-Khali (Empty Quarter) following drilling work.
Iran to launch seismic deal for gas fields

28 July 2009, 17:19 GMT
The state-run Pars Oil & Gas Company (POGC) is about to launch a tender covering seismic work on the Golshan and Ferdows gas fields in southern Iran.
Iran to invest $500m in Caspian Sea oil field development

28 July 2009, 13:59 GMT
Iran's state-run Khazar Oil Company is to invest $500m in development of oil and gas resources in the Caspian Sea.
Qatar Petroleum requests bids for Mesaieed platforms

28 July 2009, 13:45 GMT
Qatar Petroleum (QP) has requested bids from contractors for an engineering, procurement, installation and commissioning (Epic) deal covering platforms at the company's Mesaieed refinery.
Energy firms offer floating offshore platforms in Saudi Arabia

27 July 2009, 15:21 GMT
Saudi Arabia's Shoaibi Group and the UAE's Gulf Marine Services have created a joint venture to provide offshore barge services in the kingdom.
Norwegian firm raises output from Iraqi oil field

27 July 2009, 13:08 GMT
Norway's DNO International says output from the Tawke oil field in Iraq's Kurdistan region reached 13,723 barrels a day (b/d) in June.
Iraq invites firms to second oil bid meeting

27 July 2009, 12:33 GMT
Iraq's Oil Ministry will hold a roadshow for its second oil licensing round in Istanbul on 25 August in an attempt to reverse the disappointing results of the first bid round held in June.
Iraqi territorial dispute benefits no one

24 July 2009, 16:06 GMT
Both sides should try to find a compromise to advance the collective cause of Iraqi energy.
Kurds net $5bn windfall from oil deals

24 July 2009, 15:03 GMT
Kurdistan Regional Government will use funds from exploration contracts for Infrastructure Projects.
Saudi Aramco launches exploration studies

24 July 2009, 13:58 GMT
Seismic data-gathering projects will seek to find fresh reserves in the Empty Quarter, Red Sea and Manifa.
Saudi Aramco set to award oil plant work

22 July 2009, 15:53 GMT
Saudi Aramco plans to award a $300m contract in the first week of August to expand 13 bulk plants that serve as oil distribution points across the kingdom.
Firms bid for Aramco gas piping deal in Shedgum

22 July 2009, 14:11 GMT
Saudi Aramco has received bids from nine companies for a $40m contract to upgrade the acid gas piping system at its Shedgum gas processing plant, 135 kilometres southwest of Dhahran in the Eastern Province.
Iraqi Kurdistan awards oil fields to Gulf Keystone

22 July 2009, 13:50 GMT
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) of northern Iraq has awarded UK-based Gulf Keystone two production-sharing agreements (PSAs) to explore the Sheikh Adi and Ber Bahr oil blocks in the Dihok Province.
Iranian gas deal with Emirates still possible

21 July 2009, 13:05 GMT
The state-run National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) says it is still prepared to supply gas to the UAE’s Crescent Petroleum even though the Sharjah-based firm has started arbitration proceedings against the NIOC.
ExxonMobil starts drilling on Libyan oil field

21 July 2009, 12:38 GMT
ExxonMobil Corporation has started drilling its first deep-water exploration well offshore in the Sirte basin northeast of Libya.
Kurdistan opens Erbil oil refinery

20 July 2009, 15:20 GMT
Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has opened an oil refinery in Erbil with capacity of 75,000 barrels a day (b/d) of oil from the Khurmala Dome field.
French firm awards Egyptian oil deal to Plexus Holdings

20 July 2009, 13:35 GMT
France's GDF Suez has awarded a $1m contract to UK engineering services firm Plexus Holdings to supply wellhead systems for exploration activities in the Egyptian region of the Mediterranean Sea.
French company to develop Qatar offshore block

20 July 2009, 12:56 GMT
France's GDF Suez is to explore for oil and gas in Qatar for the first time after acquiring a 60 per cent stake in offshore Block 4 from the US' Anadarko Petroleum.
Saudi Aramco launches major gas projects

17 July 2009, 14:18 GMT
State energy giant is boosting production to meet increasing demand from domestic petrochemicals firms.
Qatar energy companies launch service and maintenance deals

17 July 2009, 13:28 GMT
Qatar's energy firms are pushing ahead with a raft of service and maintenance deals as the state moves into the implementation phase of its bid to boost liquefied natural gas (LNG) production from 42 million tonnes a year (t/y) to 77 million t/y by 2010.
Qatargas set to start gas production at from train 5 unit

16 July 2009, 12:41 GMT
Qatargas expects to start processing gas from its train 5 liquefied natural gas (LNG) unit in the near future.
Jordan approves Shell oil shale deal

16 July 2009, 11:59 GMT
Jordan's parliament has approved a $500m concession agreement with the UK/Dutch Shell Group to exploit the kingdom's oil shale reserves.
Vodafone to list on Qatar Exchange

15 July 2009, 16:37 GMT
Vodafone Qatar, the holder of the second mobile phone licence in Qatar, is to list on the newly created Qatar Exchange on 22 July.
Crescent Petroleum seeks arbitration over Iran gas deadlock

15 July 2009, 15:50 GMT
The UAE's Crescent Petroleum has escalated its ongoing dispute with the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) by starting arbitration proceedings over delays in completing the gas supply deal.
Egypt boosts gas and oil reserves

15 July 2009, 12:12 GMT
Egypt has boosted its proven natural gas reserves figure to 77.2 trillion cubic feet (tcf) on 30 June 2009, an increase of 1.2 trillion tcf on the figure from a year earlier.
Aramco holds meeting with contractors over Yanbu refinery

14 July 2009, 16:34 GMT
Saudi Aramco held a meeting with contractors on its 400,000-barrel-a-day (b/d) Yanbu export refinery on 14 July, following the launch of the main construction packages in June.
Rasgas set to start train 6 production

14 July 2009, 13:16 GMT
Qatar's Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company (Rasgas) says it expects to start production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from train 6 by the end of July.
Thai firm writes off Egyptian drilling costs

14 July 2009, 12:35 GMT
Thailand's PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP) is to write off $10m in drilling costs after failing to find commercial quantities of oil from an offshore block in Egypt.
Dolphin Energy awards gas construction deal to Descon

13 July 2009, 15:46 GMT
Abu Dhabi's Dolphin Energy has awarded a three-year contract to Pakistan's Descon Engineering covering minor modification work on Dolphin's onshore gas processing plant in Qatar.
Iran to help fund South Pars gas project

13 July 2009, 13:29 GMT
Iran has pledged to provide an additional $1bn in investment for phases 15 and 16 of the South Pars gas development in order to meet a funding shortfall.
Dana Gas starts production at Sondos field

13 July 2009, 12:48 GMT
The UAE's Dana Gas has started production from its Sondos field in the West El-Manzala concession in Egypt, with output averaging 12 million cubic feet a day (cf/d) of gas.
Baghdad must soften oil terms

10 July 2009, 17:04 GMT
Energy companies accuse Iraq of driving too hard a bargain over the amount it is prepared to pay.
Aramco and Dow invite firms to prequalify for Ras Tanura

10 July 2009, 15:26 GMT
Planned $20bn petrochemicals complex makes progress with first construction package.
Aramco makes U-turn over Yanbu joint venture terms

10 July 2009, 14:32 GMT
Oil majors will no longer need to partner local firms on process packages.
Aramco awards Jubail refinery deal to Petro Steel

9 July 2009, 16:28 GMT
Saudi Aramco has awarded a $745m engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) deal to the local/Singapore joint venture Petro Steel to build a tank farm for its 400,000 barrel-a-day (b/d) Jubail refinery on the kingdom's Gulf coast.
A crushing blow to Baghdad's oil plans

9 July 2009, 15:03 GMT
Iraq's June licensing round ended in embarrassment for the Oil Ministry, with just one deal awarded.
Aramco delays bids for Shedgum gas work

9 July 2009, 13:02 GMT
Saudi Aramco has delayed the deadline for companies to bid for a $40m contract to upgrade the acid gas piping system at its Shedgum gas processing plant, 135 kilometres southwest of Dhahran in the Eastern Province.
Egypt launches oil and gas bid rounds

9 July 2009, 12:47 GMT
Egypt's state-run energy companies have launched the state's first two bid rounds for oil and gas exploration so far in 2009.
Apic and Tebodin to create Saudi engineering firm

8 July 2009, 15:51 GMT
Saudi Arabia's Apic has signed a joint venture deal with Holland's Tebodin Consultants & Engineers to create a new consultancy and engineering company based in Jeddah.
Aramco awards contract for Shaybah gas plant to Sofcon

8 July 2009, 14:13 GMT
Saudi Aramco has awarded a pre-front-end engineering and design (Feed) study to the US/local Sofcon for the first phase of a programme to develop gas supplies from the Shaybah field in the Rub al-Khali (Empty Quarter).
Iraq cancels oil rig deal with UK firm

8 July 2009, 13:45 GMT
Baghdad's state-run Iraqi Drilling Company has cancelled a $400m joint venture agreement with the UK's Mesopotamia Petroleum Company after the firm missed a deadline to provide $44m in funding for the project.
Firms compete for Aramco oil plant upgrade project

7 July 2009, 17:08 GMT
Saudi Aramco has received bids from at least 12 companies for a $300m contract to expand 13 bulk plants that serve as oil distribution points across the kingdom.
Saudi Aramco awards Jubail refinery deals

7 July 2009, 13:18 GMT
Saudi Aramco and French oil major Total have signed 13 engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts for their 400,000 barrel-a-day (b/d) joint venture export refinery at Jubail.
Amerada Hess launches Libya seismic work

7 July 2009, 12:38 GMT
US oil company Amerada Hess has invited companies to prequalify for seismic data processing work on its acreage in Libya.
Syria appoints executives to head refining businesses

6 July 2009, 15:14 GMT
Damascus has appointed executives to two senior positions in the country's oil refining sector, as part of a wider restructure of its downstream energy industry.
Verenex issues prequalification notice for Libya oil work

6 July 2009, 13:25 GMT
Canada's Verenex Energy has issued a prequalification notice to contractors for the supply and operation of two drilling rigs as part of exploratory work on its Area 47 acreage in the Ghadames Basin in northwest Libya.
Jordan finalises negotiations over Risha gas work

6 July 2009, 12:31 GMT
Jordan expects to sign an exploration deal with the UK's BP by the end of July to develop the Risha tight gas field in the northeast of the country.
Recession will stall Libyan oil plans

3 July 2009, 15:17 GMT
New discoveries are thin on the ground and output from Libya's mature fields is declining. Planned investment of $46bn seemed justifiable in July 2008.
Aramco to build gas plant at Shaybah

3 July 2009, 14:18 GMT
Development of the field will include facility with capacity to process 7.2 billion cubic feet a day.
Tripoli struggles to reach hydrocarbons potential

2 July 2009, 14:43 GMT
Libya is set to miss its ambitious production targets as it seeks to renegotiate terms with oil majors.
US firm bids low for Bahrain refinery development

2 July 2009, 13:12 GMT
The US' UOP, a division of the industrial giant Honeywell, is the lowest bidder for a contract to develop a masterplan for a refinery in Bahrain.
Iraq awards refinery deals to Shaw Group

1 July 2009, 16:06 GMT
Iraq's Oil Ministry has awarded contracts to the US' Shaw Group for studies on two planned 150,000-barrel-a-day (b/d) refineries in Missan in the south and Kirkuk in the north.
Iran awards South Pars gas plant deal to contractors

1 July 2009, 12:41 GMT
Iran's state-owned Petropars has awarded a $1.8bn construction deal to four contractors for a gas treatment plant connected to phase 12 of the South Pars gas field.
Energy firms baulk at Iraqi oil licensing terms

30 June 2009, 17:46 GMT
Iraq's Oil Ministry reached agreement on just one deal with energy majors in its first oil licensing round, as companies baulked at Baghdad's tough terms and conditions.
Aramco relaunches Yanbu export refinery bids

30 June 2009, 14:02 GMT
The joint venture of Saudi Aramco and the US' ConocoPhillips has confirmed the relaunch of construction bids for the 400,000 barrel-a-day (b/d) Yanbu export refinery on the country's Red Sea coast.
Aramco signs solar deal with Showa Shell

30 June 2009, 13:52 GMT
The state-run Saudi Aramco has signed a deal with Japanese refiner and solar equipment maker Showa Shell to build solar plants in the kingdom.
Libya launches survey for Al-Jurf oil field

29 June 2009, 14:29 GMT
Libya's state-run Mabruk Oil Operations has issued a tender for an offshore environmental study for the second-phase development of its Al-Jurf oil field, 160 kilometres northwest of Tripoli.
Qatar signs gas export deal with Poland

29 June 2009, 14:08 GMT
Qatargas has formally signed a 20-year deal to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Poland's state-owned gas exploration and production company PGNIG.
Iraq delays oil bid round following dust storm

29 June 2009, 13:36 GMT
Iraq's Oil Ministry has postponed the opening of bids for the country's first oil field licensing round because a dust storm closed Baghdad's international airport on 28 June.
Delays in oil and gas projects have been good for Doha

26 June 2009, 21:00 GMT
QP's decision to press ahead with Al-Shaheen and Barzan suggests it does not expect prices to fall further.
Iraqi oil round survives last-minute challenge

26 June 2009, 19:57 GMT
Critics claim production-sharing agreements offered to oil majors compromise sovereignty of assets.
Doha to open bidding for second phase of Ras Laffan

26 June 2009, 19:37 GMT
Tender of refinery expansion to begin before first phase is completed.
Doha relaunches stalled energy schemes

26 June 2009, 15:33 GMT
Qatar Petroleum to invite contractors to bid for $10bn worth of work on Al-Shaheen and Barzan projects.
UAE and Algeria keep energy sector moving

26 June 2009, 12:21 GMT
While some of the region’s largest energy producers, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, have offered little new work for contractors following the collapse in oil prices last year, others are taking up the slack.
Bahrain opens deep gas exploration bids

25 June 2009, 15:58 GMT
Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) has received just two bids for a new onshore deep gas exploration round, even though it had prequalified 18 companies to bid for the contract.
Iran signs methanol technology deals

24 June 2009, 17:53 GMT
Iranian private sector companies Marjan Petrochemical Company and Kimiaye Pars have signed technology deals with Denmark's Haldor Topsoe to help them build two separate methanol plants.
Dolphin Energy holds talks over gas imports from Qatar

23 June 2009, 13:37 GMT
Abu Dhabi's Dolphin Energy has started talks with Qatar Petroleum (QP) to import an additional 500 million cubic feet a day (cf/d) of gas into the UAE using the Dolphin pipeline.
Iran replaces deputy oil minister

23 June 2009, 12:35 GMT
Tehran has unexpectedly removed the Deputy Minister for Planning Akbar Torkan from the Petroleum Ministry and promoted Ibrahim Radafzoun to the position.
Energy: Patience has paid off for Aramco

19 June 2009, 18:44 GMT
Aramco and Total have signed off on the cost of building Jubail for $9.6bn, a 20 per cent drop.
Manama delays gas production increase

19 June 2009, 14:55 GMT
Review of energy strategy forces postponement of project to double liquefied petroleum gas output.
MEED List: South Korea and the Middle East

19 June 2009, 14:31 GMT
The six leading South Korean figures involved in the Middle East project market are: Kwang-Chul Choi, Jung-Mo Jang, Young-Ha Lee, Sang-Ryong Woo, Yeon-Joo Jung and Kangsoo Choo.
South Korean shipbuilders weather financial storm

19 June 2009, 14:23 GMT
Although South Korea’s shipbuilders have had a quieter start to the year than usual, partly because of a fall-off in export activity from the Middle East, optimism remains high.
Seoul backs nuclear push

19 June 2009, 14:19 GMT
Despite ongoing market fluctuations, project delays and fierce competition, South Korean firms are ideally placed to capitalise on almost every aspect of the utility sector in the Middle East.
Aramco opens bidding for Dhahran pipe upgrade

19 June 2009, 13:38 GMT
State-run energy giant Saudi Aramco is inviting 13 companies to bid for the contract to upgrade the acid gas piping system at its Shedgum gas-processing plant, 135 kilometres southwest of Dhahran in Eastern Province.
Opportunity knocks in the Gulf for South Korea

19 June 2009, 13:06 GMT
South Korean engineering, procurement and construction contractors are winning contracts based on their low fees, flexibility and willingness to take on risky, fixed-price projects.
Seoul ensuring energy security

19 June 2009, 12:59 GMT
Seoul has been encouraging South Korean energy companies to look further afield to offset the country’s dependence on the Middle East.
Seoul strengthens regional ties

19 June 2009, 12:57 GMT
South Korea’s links to the Middle East have been founded on the region’s energy exports. But thanks to the persistence of its contractors, trade is no longer one way.
Aramco invites bids on Yanbu refinery

19 June 2009, 11:53 GMT
State oil company Saudi Aramco is inviting contractors to bid for the main construction packages on its second $10bn-plus export refinery project this year, following the award of a raft of contracts on its Jubail refinery in the third week of June.
Jung-Mo Jang

Supplement: South Korea and the Middle East
A key South Korean figure involved in the Middle East project market
Kangsoo Choo

Supplement: South Korea and the Middle East
A leading South Korean figure involved in the Middle East project market
Kwang-Chul Choi

Supplement: South Korea and the Middle East
A leading South Korean figure involved in the Middle East project market
Sang-Ryong Woo

Supplement: South Korea and the Middle East
A leading South Korean figure involved in the Middle East project market
Yeon-Joo Jung

Supplement: South Korea and the Middle East
A leading South Korean figure involved in the Middle East project market
Young-Ha Lee

Supplement: South Korea and the Middle East
A leading South Korean figure involved in the Middle East project market
J Ray McDermott awards Manifa oil field deal

18 June 2009, 14:25 GMT
The UAE-based J Ray McDermott has awarded a contract to the US' Tideland Signal to supply navigational aids for Saudi Aramco's 900,000 barrel-a-day (b/d) Manifa oil field development project.
Saudi Arabia appoints new Opec official

18 June 2009, 14:10 GMT
Saudi Arabia has appointed a new Opec representative, Ahmad al-Ghamdi, who will be the kingdom's main official at the cartel's meetings, according to a source close to the ministry.
Aramco awards construction deals for Jubail refinery

18 June 2009, 13:24 GMT
Saudi Aramco and France's Total have cut the cost of building the Jubail export refinery to $9.6bn, from an estimated $12bn, after awarding the 13 largest engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) packages to international and local contractors.
Aramco extends bid deadline for oil plant upgrades

17 June 2009, 12:25 GMT
Saudi Aramco has extended the bid deadline for a $300m contract to expand 13 bulk plants that serve as oil distribution bases across the kingdom.
Shell starts negotiations on Ras Laffan gas deals

15 June 2009, 13:03 GMT
The UK/Dutch Shell Group has started clarification meetings with contractors for a set of integrated service contracts on its Pearl gas-to-liquids (GTL) facility at Ras Laffan.
Qatar awards gas service deals to Cape

15 June 2009, 12:25 GMT
Qatar energy firms have awarded three contracts worth $37m to UK service provider Cape, covering work on some of the country's largest gas facilities.
Flexibility is key to Saudi Aramco's refinery awards

15 June 2009, 12:19 GMT
Contractors will have to be more flexible in future to win contracts with the Saudi oil giant.
Akakus work in Libya goes to Foster Wheeler

12 June 2009, 17:43 GMT
Libya's Akakus Oil Operations has awarded a project management consultancy deal to the US' Foster Wheeler as part of development plans for a 100,000 barrel-a-day (b/d) gas oil separation plant in the Murzuq basin, 700 kilometres from Tripoli.
Iran awards liquefied gas deal to Daelim

11 June 2009, 16:16 GMT
National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) has awarded a $111m deal to South Korea's Daelim Industrial Company to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant at Tombak on the Hormuzgan coast.
Saudi Aramco to award $7bn Jubail export refinery deals

11 June 2009, 15:18 GMT
State oil company Saudi Aramco is expected to formally approve the award of nearly $7bn worth of construction contracts for its Jubail export refinery at a board meeting on 16 June with its joint venture partner, France's Total.
Heritage Oil and Genel Energy merge in Iraq

10 June 2009, 14:12 GMT
The UK's Heritage Oil is to merge with Turkey's Genel Energy International in a move creating the largest oil exploration firm working in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.
Petronas to join China in South Pars gas development

10 June 2009, 14:09 GMT
National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) says Malaysia's Petronas will retain its stake in phase 11 of the South Pars gas field, after China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) signed a $4.7bn deal for development of the project in early June.
Libya awards gas terminal work to Interbeton

8 June 2009, 15:04 GMT
Libya's state-run Zuetina Oil Company has awarded a cooling water contract on its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) terminal to the Dutch-based construction firm Interbeton.
Jordan delays deadline for oil field bids

8 June 2009, 14:13 GMT
Jordan's state-run Natural Resources Authority (NRA) has delayed the deadline for companies to submit bids for two large oil blocks until 2 July from the original date of 31 May.
Qatar Petroleum signs investment memorandum with Canadian Natural Resources

8 June 2009, 12:56 GMT
Qatar Petroleum International (QPI) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Canadian Natural Resources to explore joint investment opportunities.
French law firm in line to draft partnership legislation in Jordan

5 June 2009, 16:16 GMT
Jordan is finalising the appointment of a law firm that will draft legislation to govern all future public-private partnership schemes in the country.Jordan is finalising the appointment of a law firm that will draft legislation to govern all future public-private partnership schemes in the country.
Baghdad increases competition for Nahr Bin Umar oil field

5 June 2009, 16:02 GMT
The Iraqi Oil Ministry is in talks with a third bidder to develop the giant Nahr Bin Umar oil field, after receiving preliminary technical offers from Norway's StatoilHydro, and a consortium of France's Total and the US' Chevron Corporation.
Total and Chevron stall on Iraqi licensing bid

5 June 2009, 14:51 GMT
Oil majors still considering whether to bid in Iraq's first oil round in light of financing requirements.
Khalda discovers oil in Egypt

4 June 2009, 15:51 GMT
Egypt's Khalda Petroleum Company has discovered oil in its South Umbarka concession in the Western desert.
Iran signs South Pars gas deal with China

4 June 2009, 12:51 GMT
National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) has signed a $4.7bn deal with China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) to develop phase 11 of the South Pars gas field, in a move which appears to displace France's Total from the project.
Circle Oil discovers gas in Morocco

3 June 2009, 12:56 GMT
The UK's Circle Oil has discovered gas at its Sebou concession in Morocco's Rharb Basin, northeast of Rabat.
Iran awards South Pars gas deal to local firm

2 June 2009, 16:21 GMT
National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) appears to have snubbed the UK/Dutch Shell Group by signing a deal with one of its own subsidiaries to develop phases 20 and 21 of the giant South Pars gas field.
UK oil firm delivers gas from Egyptian exploration project

2 June 2009, 13:16 GMT
The UK's BG Group has delivered the first gas from the fifth phase of its deepwater exploration programme in the eastern Mediterranean.
Norwegian firm starts exports from Kurdistan oil field

2 June 2009, 12:43 GMT
Norway's DNO International has started crude exports from its Tawke oil field in northern Iraq after previously receiving formal approval from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
Morocco signs oil shale deal with San Leon Energy

1 June 2009, 16:27 GMT
Morocco's National Office of Hydrocarbons & Mining has signed a memorandum of understanding for the Tarfaya oil shale project with the UK's San Leon Energy.
Addax Petroleum starts exporting oil from Iraq

1 June 2009, 15:55 GMT
Switzerland's Addax Petroleum and Turkey's Genel Enerji have started international oil exports from the Taq Taq field in the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq.
Petrobras and Oil Search begin offshore drilling in Libya

1 June 2009, 12:24 GMT
Australian energy firm Oil Search and Brazilian oil major Petrobras have started drilling their first offshore well in Area 18 of Libya.
Bahraini energy sector needs a little luck

29 May 2009, 18:38 GMT
The country remains a bit player as an oil and gas producer. Mirza has a sound masterplan to revitalise Bahrain's energy sector.
Manama backs masterplan to overhaul the energy sector

29 May 2009, 17:41 GMT
Plan includes $5bn refinery upgrade and tripling output from sole oil field.
Daewoo Engineering wins expansion deal at Djen Djen port

29 May 2009, 17:18 GMT
Algeria's Transport Ministry has awarded a construction deal covering the expansion of Djen Djen port, 350 kilometres east of Algiers, to South Korea's Daewoo Engineering & Construction.
Aramco invites bids for $300m distribution plant upgrades

29 May 2009, 16:57 GMT
Saudi Aramco has invited 20 companies to submit bids by 7 June for $300m worth of contracts to expand 13 bulk plants that serve as oil distribution points across the kingdom.
Aramco holds talks over Jubail deals

29 May 2009, 16:40 GMT
State energy giant meets seven lowest bidders for six key packages on the export refinery project.
Jung on Samsung Engineering's expansion drive

28 May 2009, 18:55 GMT
Yeon-Joo Jung, president and chief executive officer of Samsung Engineering Company, has been instrumental in the company's push into the region.
Iranian minister calls for state funding in energy sector

28 May 2009, 15:17 GMT
Iran's oil minister has called for the creation of a government-backed bank to facilitate investment in the country's struggling energy industry.
Iran issues tender for Reshadat oil field

28 May 2009, 14:49 GMT
Iranian Offshore Oil Company (IOOC) has re-issued a tender for the provision of engineering, procurement and drilling services at its offshore Reshadat oil field in the Gulf.
Lukoil holds talks with Iraq over West Qurna 2

27 May 2009, 16:16 GMT
Russia's Lukoil hopes to resurrect a deal with Iraq's Oil Ministry to develop phase two of its West Qurna 2 oil field following a visit from the company's chief executive officer to Baghdad on 26 May.
Gulfsands Petroleum starts Syrian oil well drilling

27 May 2009, 15:30 GMT
The UK's Gulfsands Petroleum has started drilling the second of three development wells on the Khurbet East field in northeast Syria after completing a 3D seismic survey of an 850-square-kilometre area.
Qatargas awards Ras Laffan work to Kentz Group

27 May 2009, 12:07 GMT
Qatargas has awarded a contract to the UK's Kentz Group for electrical, instrumentation and telecommunications work on a gas-loading facility at Ras Laffan.
Iran awards Darkhovin drilling deal

26 May 2009, 16:29 GMT
A subsidiary of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) has awarded a drilling contract to Iran's Oil Exploration Operations Company (OEOC) as part of its ongoing development of the Darkhovin oil field.
Dana Gas increases Egyptian reserves after Nile discovery

26 May 2009, 12:25 GMT
The UAE's Dana Gas will add up to 30 billion cubic feet of gas to its Egyptian reserves after making a discovery in its Nile Delta concession.
Shell's head of gas and power resigns

26 May 2009, 12:05 GMT
The UK/Dutch Shell Group's Linda Cook, the head of gas and power who was responsible for some of the company's largest Middle Eastern projects, will resign on 1 June after being overlooked to take on the chief executive officer (CEO) role at the company in late 2008.
Qatar Petroleum asks for lower bids on engineering services deal

22 May 2009, 17:35 GMT
Qatar Petroleum (QP) has asked contractors to resubmit cheaper bids for an engineering services consultancy contract by 24 May.
Aramco seeks to cut cost of Jubail scheme

22 May 2009, 17:26 GMT
State oil giant invites contractors to resubmit bids for refinery packages to bring price down to $10bn.
Qatar Petroleum International considers joining with sovereign fund

22 May 2009, 15:55 GMT
Qatar Petroleum International (QPI), the overseas arm of the state-run energy company, is considering forming a consortium with the country's sovereign wealth fund, Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), to invest in the energy sector.
Iranian central bank helps fund Belarusneft oil exploration

21 May 2009, 13:51 GMT
The Central Bank of Iran will lend $212m to Belarus' state-run firm Belarusneft for the development of the Islamic republic's Jofeir oil field which lies near its border with Iraq.
Qatargas delays production at Laffan refinery

21 May 2009, 13:09 GMT
Qatargas will start production at its 146,000 barrel-a-day (b/d) Laffan condensate refinery by the end of June, a delay from its original deadline of the fourth quarter of 2008.
Aramco starts production at Nuayyim oil field

21 May 2009, 12:31 GMT
Saudi Aramco has started production at its 100,000 barrel-a-day (b/d) Nuayyim oil field south of Riyadh, about six months after its original deadline.
Egypt signs energy co-operation accord with Iraq

20 May 2009, 17:15 GMT
Egypt has signed a deal with Iraq that will give its companies the right to compete for exploration, construction and drilling contracts in the republic.
J Ray McDermott awards Pearl deal to Geolab and Hallin

20 May 2009, 16:38 GMT
Jebel Ali-based J Ray McDermott awarded a sub-contract to a joint venture of Italy's Geolab and the UK's Hallin for marine work on Qatar's $20bn Pearl gas-to-liquids (GTL) project.
Iran to produce Kish gas by 2011

20 May 2009, 12:12 GMT
Iran's state-run Oil Engineering & Development Company (OEDC) will start producing 1 billion cubic feet a day (cf/d) of gas from its Kish field by 2011.
Contractors submit bids for Iranian oil field project

19 May 2009, 16:19 GMT
National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) has received bids for a project management consultancy (PMC) contract covering its Band-e-Karkheh field in the western province of Khuzestan.
Plexus wins BP Egypt gas exploration work

19 May 2009, 13:01 GMT
UK engineering services firm Plexus Holdings has won a $2.5m contract extension from BP Egypt for the supply of wellhead systems and ongoing support on the company's gas exploration efforts in its Nile Delta concession.
Circle Oil makes discovery in Egypt

19 May 2009, 12:27 GMT
The UK's Circle Oil has discovered oil and gas in Egypt's onshore northwest Gemsa concession in the Gulf of Suez basin.
Iraq appoints South Oil Company head

18 May 2009, 15:48 GMT
Iraq's Oil Ministry has appointed Fayad Nema as the new director-general of the state run South Oil Company (SOC) after his predecessor Kifah Numan retired.
Egypt signs gas exploration deal with Polish firm

18 May 2009, 13:28 GMT
Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) has signed a $48m deal with Poland's state-owned gas exploration and production company, PGNIG, for drilling in the Western Desert.
Baghdad criticises Kurdistan gas deal

18 May 2009, 12:54 GMT
Iraq's Oil Ministry has criticised an $8bn deal between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and energy producers to supply gas to the Nabucco pipeline, saying it contravenes Baghdad's existing export rules.
Energy majors will comply with regional demands

15 May 2009, 18:51 GMT
Given the severity of the economic downturn, few international firms are in the mood to provoke their most important clients.Given the severity of the economic downturn, few international firms are in the mood to provoke their most important clients.
Doha set to reopen North field by 2014

15 May 2009, 11:27 GMT
Qatar Petroleum expected to lift moratorium on fresh exploration of gas reservoir within five years.
Jordan to sign oil shale exploration deal with Shell

14 May 2009, 16:26 GMT
Jordan's National Resources Authority (NRA) will sign a $540m deal with the UK/Dutch Shell Group on 17 May for deep oil shale exploration as the first part of a deal that could attract $50bn of investment to the country.
Regional governments getting tough with foreign energy firms

14 May 2009, 14:45 GMT
The region's governments are setting increasingly stringent terms for international companies.
Firms submit bids for Jubail aromatics package

14 May 2009, 13:24 GMT
Six firms have submitted bids for a $700m aromatics package on Saudi Aramco's $10bn Jubail export refinery.
Egypt to launch oil and gas bid round

14 May 2009, 13:02 GMT
The state-run Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) will launch a new oil and gas exploration round in the first week of June for international oil companies.
Aramco crude production rises in 2008

13 May 2009, 17:28 GMT
Saudi Aramco's crude oil production rose to 8.9 million barrels a day (b/d) in 2008 from 8.5 million b/d in 2007 while gas production increased to 8.3 billion cubic feet a day (cf/d) from 7.9 billion cf/d for the previous year.
Eni signs $1.5bn Egypt investment deal

13 May 2009, 16:40 GMT
Egypt's Petroleum Ministry and Italy's Eni have agreed a deal which will see the oil major invest $1.5bn in exploration and production over the next five years.
Egypt awards contracts for offshore gas blocks

13 May 2009, 16:11 GMT
Egyptian Gas Holding Company (Egas) has awarded four of the seven exploration blocks on offer in its latest bid round to international energy majors after the companies submitted offers in early February.
Qatargas delivers gas to UK terminal

13 May 2009, 11:04 GMT
Qatargas has delivered its first gas to the South Hook liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in south Wales as part of a deal that will result in the state-run firm supplying up to 20 per cent of the UK's peak gas requirements.
Kurdistan Regional Government reaches oil compromise

12 May 2009, 17:07 GMT
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) says it has reached a compromise with Iraq's central government over exporting oil from its large fields.
Dana Gas increases Egyptian output from El-Wastani

12 May 2009, 16:54 GMT
The UAE's Dana Gas has increased daily oil production from its Egyptian fields by 20 per cent compared with 2008 levels after increasing its output from the El-Wastani gas plant in the Nile Delta region.
Political turmoil is stalling growth in Kuwaiti energy sector

8 May 2009, 17:09 GMT
It would come as no surprise if the elections shake up the way Kuwait's energy companies are run.
Algeria's Sonatrach freezes bidding on Skikda

8 May 2009, 16:35 GMT
Structural problems at national oil company's former downstream subsidiary Naftec delay refinery.
Kuwait to hold talks over Al-Zour

8 May 2009, 16:06 GMT
Chief executive of Kuwait National Petroleum Company to visit Far East for discussions with contractors.
Contractors in Egypt seek financial support for Mostorod refinery

8 May 2009, 15:35 GMT
South Korea's GS Engineering & Construction Corporation and Japan's Mitsui & Company are seeking financing for the $2bn-plus Mostorod refinery project from their national export credit agencies after each firm was offered a 30 per cent stake in the scheme, one source close to the project tells MEED.
Aramco set to complete Khurais oil field work

7 May 2009, 16:22 GMT
Saudi Aramco expects to complete work on its 1.2 million-barrel-a-day (b/d) Khurais oil development by the end of May in a move that will increase the kingdom's crude capacity to 12 million b/d.
Aramco changes management structure

7 May 2009, 15:56 GMT
Saudi Aramco has promoted six executives to newly created vice-president roles as part of a regular review of its management structure.
RasGas awards maintenance deal to Transfied Worley Trags

7 May 2009, 14:27 GMT
Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company (RasGas) has awarded a $100m two-year contract extension to the local/Australian Transfield Worley Trags joint venture for maintenance and shutdown work.
Iran signs oil field deal with Belarus

6 May 2009, 16:37 GMT
Iranian oil development firm Petropars has signed a deal with Belarus' state-run Belorusneft to carry out 3D seismic work on its Band-e-Karkheh field in the western province of Khuzestan.
Heritage Oil makes Iraq oil discovery

6 May 2009, 16:02 GMT
The UK's Heritage Oil has discovered up to 4.2 billion barrels of oil in the Kurdistan region of Iraq and expects to recover up to 3 billion barrels of crude following the completion of a test programme.
Qatargas sets deadline for gas maintenance bids

6 May 2009, 13:58 GMT
Qatar Liquefied Gas Company (Qatargas) has set a 30 September deadline for international firms to submit commercial bids for its $1.2bn plateau maintenance project.
Tender Libya: Geotechnical Investigation Consultant

6 May 2009, 6:55 GMT
Topographical survey and geotechnical investigations required for the construction of a gas oil separation plant (GOSP). Closing date: 6 September 2009Akakus Oil Operations is the development operator of Areas NC115 and NC186 in the Murzuq basin, 700 kiloemtres south of Tripoli.Expressions of interest.Details from Abdula Owen, Engineering Superintendent, Akakus Oil Operations, El-Tahaddi Street (Off Airport Road), PO Box 91987, Tripoli - Libya
Petrovietnam tenders Iran oil field deal

5 May 2009, 14:27 GMT
Vietnam's state-run Petrovietnam Exploration Production Corporation has issued a tender for a 2D-seismic survey covering its Danan oil block located northwest of Ahwaz in Iran.
Gas producers to hold meeting in Qatar

5 May 2009, 13:42 GMT
Qatar will host a meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) in June as the group looks to nurture greater co-operation between member states.
RasGas delivers liquefied gas to Turkey

5 May 2009, 12:52 GMT
Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company (RasGas) has delivered its first spot cargo of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Turkey.
Gas buys Doha time to diversify

30 April 2009, 15:32 GMT
Most countries in the region face a bleak year, but strong gas exports mean Qatar's economy will continue to grow through the downturn.
Iraq must fix falling oil output

24 April 2009, 17:04 GMT
A sense of unease is growing about the performance of Iraq’s oil fields.
Dolphin Energy signs $3bn refinancing deal

24 April 2009, 15:54 GMT
Abu Dhabi-based Dolphin Energy, which delivers Qatari gas through pipelines to the UAE and Oman, has raised $3bn in debt refinancing.
Contractors submit bids for Jubail refinery packages

24 April 2009, 14:50 GMT
International contractors are bidding for several of the largest process packages on the Jubail export refinery being developed by a joint venture of Saudi Aramco and France’s Total.
Ras Tanura refinery faces 12-month delay

24 April 2009, 14:37 GMT
Saudi Aramco informs contractors that bidding process for the project will be on hold for up to a year.
Baghdad faces fall in oil production

23 April 2009, 20:15 GMT
Poor management of southern oil fields expected to lead to 10 per cent decline in total output.
Circle Oil postpones testing on Moroccan well

23 April 2009, 16:11 GMT
The UK’s Circle Oil has postponed testing on a well at its Sebou concession in Morocco’s Rharb Basin to the northeast of Rabat due to a lack of drilling materials and testing equipment.
Aramco awards Yanbu clean fuels deal

23 April 2009, 14:18 GMT
Saudi Aramco Mobil Refinery Company (Samref) has awarded a $400m contract to Australia’s WorleyParsons for environmental modification work on its 400,000-barrel-a-day (b/d) refinery at Yanbu.
Maaden boosts value of WorleyParsons phosphate deal

23 April 2009, 13:39 GMT
Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maaden) has nearly doubled the value of a management consultancy (PMC) deal to Australia’s WorleyParsons on its phosphate project at Ras al-Zour after extending the scope of the contract.
Iran signs petrochemicals deal with Turkey

22 April 2009, 16:40 GMT
Iran’s state-run National Petrochemical Company (NPC) has signed a preliminary contract with Turkey’s Petrochemical Holding Corporation (Petkim) for the creation of a methanol and polyethylene facility in the Islamic republic.
Firms to line up for Awali gas exploration work

22 April 2009, 12:41 GMT
Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) expects bids by the end of May for a licensing round covering deep gas exploration at Awali, the country’s largest gas field.
Contractors submit bids for Qatar gas service deal

21 April 2009, 16:30 GMT
Eight companies have bid to the UK/Dutch Shell Group for a set of integrated service contracts on its Pearl gas-to-liquids (GTL) facility at Ras Laffan.
Iraq delays bid date for Halfaya oil field facility

21 April 2009, 12:37 GMT
Iraq's state-run Missan Oil Company has delayed the bid deadline for a contract to construct a 50,000-barrel-a-day (b/d) production facility at its Halfaya oil field in the south of the country.
Interserve wins Ras Laffan contracts in Qatar

21 April 2009, 12:10 GMT
UK services firm Interserve won two contracts worth a combined $19m for engineering and fabrication work at Qatar's Ras Laffan Industrial City.
Iraq prepares final contract for oil round

20 April 2009, 15:56 GMT
Iraq expects to meet its end of April deadline to produce a final contract for international oil companies (IOCs) competing in its first licensing round.
Iran awards $128m tanker deal to Daewoo

20 April 2009, 13:35 GMT
National Iranian Oil Tanker Company (NIOTC) has awarded a $128m contract to South Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering for the supply of a 'very large crude carrier', a ship weighing more than 160,000 tonnes.
Qatar awards risk assessment technology deal

20 April 2009, 12:58 GMT
Qatar Petroleum (QP) has awarded a technology contract to the UK's RAP International for the supply of an electronic risk assessment system.
Contractor ban in Libya is ill-conceived

17 April 2009, 18:31 GMT
Leading contractors such as France’s Technip are in a state of paralysis over how to carry out recently awarded contracts.
Luksar wins exploration extension following Saudi gas discovery

17 April 2009, 16:54 GMT
Russian oil giant Lukoil is to extend its exploration of the kingdom’s Rub al-Khali (Empty Quarter) by two years, and is considering an additional drilling phase after discovering gas condensate in the area.
Tripoli's distance working ban derails Eni project

17 April 2009, 16:09 GMT
Tripoli’s plan to force international firms to form local ventures stalls work on offshore Bouri field.
Crescent submits new price to break Iran gas deadlock

16 April 2009, 16:12 GMT
UAE-based Crescent Petroleum says it has submitted a new gas price to Iran’s Oil Ministry in an attempt to strike an export deal with the Islamic republic.
Aramco assesses bids for Jubail refinery package

16 April 2009, 13:28 GMT
Seven contractors have submitted engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) bids for an $800m auxiliary utilities package on Saudi Aramco's 400,000 barrel-a-day (b/d) Jubail export refinery.
Qatar delays deadline for offshore gas bids

16 April 2009, 12:20 GMT
Qatar Petroleum (QP) has delayed the deadline for bids on an offshore gas area by three weeks after combining two of the blocks last month.
Telecoms giants compete for Jubail communications deal

15 April 2009, 16:52 GMT
Eleven telecommunications companies have bid for a $200m communications package on Saudi Aramco’s 400,000 barrel-a-day (b/d) Jubail export refinery.
Repsol-YPF and OMV make Libyan oil discovery

15 April 2009, 13:25 GMT
Spain’s Repsol-YPF and Austria’s OMV have made their first offshore discovery in Libya’s Sirte Basin as part of a joint venture with the state-run National Oil Corporation (NOC).
Qatargas signs supply deal with Polish firm

15 April 2009, 12:45 GMT
Qatargas has signed a 20-year deal with Poland's state-owned gas exploration and production company, PGNIG, for the supply of 1 million tonnes a year (t/y) of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Iran nears deals with firms on gas fields

14 April 2009, 16:10 GMT
National Iranian Continental Shelf Oil Company (Nicsoc) will sign contracts for gas developments with two international firms within the next few months.
Iran demands a decision from Shell on South Pars

14 April 2009, 14:19 GMT
National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) has given a new deadline of 20 May to the UK/Dutch Shell Group and Spain’s Repsol to make a decision on their involvement in the South Pars gas development.
Sonatrach discovers oil in Libya

14 April 2009, 12:39 GMT
Algeria’s state-run Sonatrach has discovered its first oil in Libya’s Ghadames Basin, 230 kilometres south of Tripoli.
Qatar's Nakilat takes control of the supply chain

10 April 2009, 16:24 GMT
Qatar has taken control of the whole supply chain by setting up its own transportation company to deliver gas to export markets.
How Doha proved the sceptics wrong with gas trains

10 April 2009, 16:08 GMT
Building two of the world’s largest gas trains simultaneously has been a major challenge, but the first supplies have now been delivered.
Qatar: Supplying gas to the world

10 April 2009, 15:35 GMT
The inauguration of the Qatargas II liquefied natural gas project is a major milestone not just for Doha but for the industry as a whole.
MEED List: Qatargas II

10 April 2009, 11:09 GMT
The six key figures in the development of the Qatargas II facility: Faisal al-Suwaidi, Ching Thye Khoo, Muhammad Ghannam, Ahmed al-Khulaifi, Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohammed al-Thani and Alex Dodds.
Saudi Aramco pushes ahead with Yanbu

9 April 2009, 18:05 GMT
Prequalified contractors will be invited to submit bids for construction of the $12bn export refinery by May.
Riyadh fast-tracks gas field development

9 April 2009, 17:22 GMT
Bidding for engineering and design is expected by October as kingdom struggles to meet demand.
Egypt evaluates bids for offshore gas blocks

8 April 2009, 16:27 GMT
Egyptian Gas Holding Company (Egas) is assessing bids from international energy companies for its latest bid round but is reluctant to commit to a schedule for contract awards.
Iraq invites firms to bid for Nasiriyah oil field

8 April 2009, 13:30 GMT
Iraq’s South Oil Company has invited contractors to compete for a project to drill 20 oil wells on its Nasiriyah oil field, west of Basra.
Firms submit Jubail refinery pipeline bids

8 April 2009, 12:42 GMT
Five contractors have submitted engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) bids for a $300m pipeline facilities package on Saudi Aramco’s 400,000 barrel-a-day (b/d) Jubail export refinery.
Contractors submit Jubail refinery infrastructure bids

7 April 2009, 16:56 GMT
Five contractors have submitted engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) bids for a $200m infrastructure package on Saudi Aramco’s 400,000 barrel-a-day (b/d) Jubail export refinery.
Nacap-Suedrohrbau wins Aramco pipeline deal

7 April 2009, 14:10 GMT
Saudi Aramco has awarded a deal to Dutch contractor Nacap-Suedrohrbau for a pipeline running from the Ras Tanura refinery to Riyadh via Dhahran and Al-Hasa in the Eastern Province.
Pars Petro Zagros wins Iran rigs contract

7 April 2009, 13:09 GMT
Iran's Pars Petro Zagros Engineering & Services (PPZ) has won a two-year contract to manage the drilling and operations of 10 rigs for the Central Iranian Oil Fields Company (CIOFC).
Qatar expects budget deficit

6 April 2009, 16:23 GMT
Qatar expects to post its first budget deficit for eight years during the new financial year which began on 1 April because of the sharp drop in oil prices.
Kurdistan assigns DNO oil field stakes to rival firms

6 April 2009, 13:35 GMT
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has given minority stakes in three Kurdish oil fields operated by Norway’s DNO International to rival oil companies.
Dana Gas starts Nile gas output

6 April 2009, 12:50 GMT
The UAE’s Dana Gas has started output from its Al-Basant discovery in the Nile Delta concession, with initial production from its El-Wastani plant hitting 153 million cubic feet a day (cf/d) of gas and 5,400 barrels a day (b/d) of condensate and liquefied petroleum gas.
Qatar to enter talks over gas facilities upgrade project

3 April 2009, 17:29 GMT
Discussions to take place on $1bn combined contract for Dukhan and Mesaieed.
Qatargas to pay for time spent on bids

3 April 2009, 17:13 GMT
Qatar Liquefied Gas Company (Qatargas) will guarantee payments for preparatory work undertaken by prequalified contractors on its $1.2bn plateau maintenance project, in an unusual move for the state’s energy sector.
Losing firms expect bidding for Iraqi fields to be reopened

3 April 2009, 16:58 GMT
The oil majors that failed to prequalify in the second bid round for fields in Iraq are confident that the government will invite more firms to bid, in an effort to increase competition and achieve better terms.
Qatar to break up Al-Shaheen refinery work into smaller deals

3 April 2009, 16:25 GMT
Qatar Petroleum seeks to lower risk and attract more competitively priced bids.
Syria invites firms to register interest in heavy crude scheme

2 April 2009, 16:07 GMT
The state-run Syrian Petroleum Company (SPC) has approached companies to register interest in a scheme to treat heavy crude from its oil fields.
Missan Oil seeks interest in Iraqi drilling deal

2 April 2009, 13:22 GMT
Iraq’s state-run Missan Oil Company has issued a tender to foreign contractors to boost production on three southern oil fields.
Iraq selects oil majors for second bid round

2 April 2009, 12:53 GMT
Iraq’s Petroleum Contracts and Licensing Directorate (PCLD) has selected nine oil majors to compete for its second bid round after 38 companies submitted qualification documents earlier in 2009.
Foster Wheeler wins $128m Iraqi refinery deal

1 April 2009, 17:27 GMT
Iraq has formally signed a $128m design deal with the US' Foster Wheeler for a 300,000 barrel-a-day (b/d) oil refinery at Nasiriyah in the south of the country.
ExxonMobil set to prequalify firms for Libyan seismic work

1 April 2009, 13:47 GMT
ExxonMobil Libya will prequalify contractors for a seismic data programme off the coast of Libya due to begin in the fourth quarter of 2009.
Syria appoints managers at energy firms

1 April 2009, 12:20 GMT
Syria has appointed managers for two recently created state-run oil and gas companies, which the government created in an attempt to simplify the country’s energy sector.
Iraq issues tenders to boost oil production

31 March 2009, 13:36 GMT
Iraq’s state-run South Oil Company has issued two tenders to boost production on several of its largest oil fields.
Abuqir discovers gas in Egypt

31 March 2009, 13:03 GMT
Egypt’s Abuqir Petroleum, a joint venture of Italy’s Edison and the state-run Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC), has made a new gas discovery in the Abu Qir concession offshore from Alexandria.
Shell extends bid deadline for Ras Laffan gas deal

31 March 2009, 12:34 GMT
The UK/Dutch Shell Group has extended the bid deadline by three weeks for a set of integrated service contracts on its Pearl gas-to-liquids (GTL) facility at Ras Laffan.
Vast Exploration positive over Kurdistan oil prospects

30 March 2009, 15:45 GMT
Canadian oil company Vast Exploration says positive results by a rival firm in Iraq’s Kurdistan region have encouraged it to continue seismic work on its own acreage in an adjacent block.
Qatar Petroleum to launch Halul island masterplan

30 March 2009, 13:17 GMT
Qatar Petroleum (QP) will approach contractors to conduct a consultancy study for a masterplan covering the offshore storage and export centre at Halul island, about 80 kilometres northeast of Doha.
Dana Petroleum makes Moroccan gas discovery

30 March 2009, 12:48 GMT
The UK’s Dana Petroleum has made a gas discovery off the Mediterranean coast of Morocco with reserves estimated at about 100 billion cubic feet.
Oil contractors have to accept Saudi terms

27 March 2009, 20:44 GMT
Saudi Aramco feels international contractors need to do more in terms of training and development.
Qatargas invites bids to maintain output

27 March 2009, 18:57 GMT
Four energy majors prequalified to compete for $1.2bn project to keep production at Qatargas I constant.
Bechtel study delays first Iraqi oil round

27 March 2009, 17:49 GMT
Iraq is delaying bids by one month on its first oil round to allow US contractor Bechtel time to finish its inspection of the existing facilities at the fields.
Aramco plans $60bn production boost

27 March 2009, 16:31 GMT
International contractors seeking to win contracts must form joint ventures with local firms.
Nakilat signs Ras Laffan deal with Damen

26 March 2009, 15:41 GMT
Qatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Netherlands’ Damen Shipyards Group for the management of a planned shipyard at Ras Laffan.
Contractors submit Jubail refinery tank farm bids

26 March 2009, 14:18 GMT
International contractors have submitted engineering, procurement and procurement (EPC) bids for two major tank farm packages worth $1.3bn on Saudi Aramco’s 400,000 barrel-a-day (b/d) Jubail export refinery.
Saipem wins $400m Egyptian rig deal

26 March 2009, 13:33 GMT
Italian energy contractor Saipem has won a $400m contract to charter an offshore drilling rig in Egypt.
Al-Rushaid signs Saudi energy deal with Dresser-Rand

25 March 2009, 16:59 GMT
Saudi Arabia’s Al-Rushaid Petroleum Investment Company and the US’ Dresser-Rand are to open a service centre in Saudi Arabia to compete for manufacturing and repair work.
Total and Qatar hold talks over Al-Khalij field

25 March 2009, 15:15 GMT
France’s Total has initiated talks with Qatar Petroleum (QP) over signing a new 25-year production-sharing deal for Qatar's 40,000 barrel-a-day (b/d) offshore Al-Khalij field.
Al-Waha awards Iraqi seismic deal to BGP

25 March 2009, 12:37 GMT
China's Al-Waha Petroleum has started work on the development of Iraq's Al-Ahdab oil field after awarding a seismic contract to BGP, the geophysical division of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC).
ExxonMobil holds talks over Ras Laffan

24 March 2009, 12:53 GMT
The US’ ExxonMobil Corporation says it remains in talks with Qatar Petroleum (QP) over plans to build a 1.3 million tonne-a-year (t/y) petrochemical cracker at Ras Laffan.
DNO awaits Kurdistan approval for Tawke oil deliveries

24 March 2009, 12:23 GMT
Norway’s DNO International has yet to receive permission from the Kurdistan authorities to allow it to deliver oil from its Tawke field into the northern pipeline system.
Qatar combines gas blocks to attract oil majors

24 March 2009, 11:35 GMT
Qatar Petroleum (QP) has combined two of its deep water gas areas into a single block in an effort to attract more interest from oil majors in areas outside the hydrocarbons rich North field.
Saipem wins $1.8bn Algerian gas deal

23 March 2009, 17:37 GMT
The joint venture of Algeria's state-run energy company Sonatrach and Italy's Eni have awarded Italy's Saipem a $1.8bn construction contract for the development of the Menzel Ledjmet East (MLE) field in the southeast of the country.
Iraq invites firms to bid for Nahr bin Umar oil field

23 March 2009, 15:53 GMT
Iraq has invited at least three companies to bid for a service contract for the Nahr bin Umar oil field, with the deadline for bids to be finalised in the next few weeks.
Iraq to approach contractors over refinery construction deals

23 March 2009, 14:43 GMT
Iraq is to invite international contractors to compete for two large engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts covering its Missan and Baiji refineries, in an effort to boost downstream capacity.
Barzan gas development in Qatar faces one-year suspension

20 March 2009, 17:09 GMT
Developers pause scheme to take advantage of falling costs across the region.
Nakilat approaches banks to raise $1bn

20 March 2009, 14:59 GMT
Qatari transport firm to spread loan between finance houses to meet payments on 25 gas shipment vessels.
Aramco seeks to slash costs

18 March 2009, 9:26 GMT
Tumbling raw materials prices have given the state energy giant an opportunity to negotiate cheaper deals on its refinery projects to ensure they go ahead on schedule.
Ultimatums from Iran will not win friends

13 March 2009, 17:43 GMT
Given the painstaking progress of its gas sector to date, Iran needs to modernise its strategy.
Abu Dhabi petroleum firm faces land shortfall at Fujairah

13 March 2009, 15:48 GMT
Abu Dhabi investment fund enters talks to secure more land for proposed oil refinery.
Tehran targets Asian energy investors

13 March 2009, 12:40 GMT
National Iranian Oil Company aims to attract funding from China and India for gas projects.
Qatar Petrochemicals Company

13 March 2009, 0:00 GMT
The Qatar Petroleum subsidiary is at the heart of the state’s bid to diversify its petrochemicals sector.
MTN boosts Iran mobile subscribers

12 March 2009, 15:24 GMT
South African telecoms company MTN signed up 10 million customers in Iran in 2008 giving it a 37 per cent market share compared with a 23 per cent stake in 2007.
Aker targets construction contracts in Saudi Arabia

12 March 2009, 14:33 GMT
Saudi Arabia’s Arabian Consulting Engineering Centre (Acec) has signed an engineering services partnership deal with Norway's Aker Solutions in an effort to target engineering, procurement and construction projects in the kingdom.
Chiyoda wins $300m RasGas service deal

12 March 2009, 14:03 GMT
Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company (RasGas) has awarded a $300m long-term services contract to the Qatari arm of Japan's Chiyoda Corporation for its liquefied natural gas (LNG) and gas processing plants.
Aramco completes Khurais oil field drilling

11 March 2009, 16:39 GMT
Saudi Aramco has completed drilling on its 1.2 million barrels-a-day Khurais oil field ten months ahead of schedule, thereby increasing the kingdom's crude capacity to 12.5 million barrels a day (b/d).
J Ray McDermott wins Safaniya oil work

11 March 2009, 13:23 GMT
Saudi Aramco has awarded a contract to the UAE-based J Ray McDermott under the state-owned oil giant's ongoing long-term agreement (LTA) with the contractor to supply it with work.
Gazprom invites interest in Libyan oil blocks

11 March 2009, 12:38 GMT
Gazprom Libya has invited contractors to prequalify for three projects to estimate reserves in two offshore blocks in Libya's offshore Pelagian Basin.
Iran invites firms to bid for Kish gas field

10 March 2009, 15:23 GMT
The state-run Iranian Petroleum Engineering and Development Company (Pedec) has issued a tender inviting companies to bid for the drilling of a second offshore appraisal well in the Kish gas field.
Dolphin resumes Ras Laffan gas supply after maintenance work

10 March 2009, 13:28 GMT
The UAE’s Dolphin Energy has increased gas production on its export pipeline back to two billion cubic feet a day (cf/d) following the completion of a five-week maintenance programme on its production and processing facilities at Ras Laffan.
Qatar to buy banks' investment portfolios

10 March 2009, 12:23 GMT
Qatar’s government is to purchase the investment portfolios of local banks listed on the Doha Securities Market in a move to shore up support for its financial sector.
Iran awards Assaluyeh ammonia plant deal

9 March 2009, 15:10 GMT
Iran's Star Aria Ammonia Chemical Company has awarded an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to build a 240,000 tonne-a-year (t/y) ammonia plant to a local/Chinese joint venture.
Aramco awards major Karan gas deals

9 March 2009, 12:23 GMT
Saudi Aramco has confirmed the award of two further engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts for the development of its Karan gas field to the UAE-based J Ray McDermott and South Korea's GS Engineering & Construction.
Qatar and Oman sign energy accord

9 March 2009, 11:55 GMT
Qatar Petroleum International (QPI) and Oman Oil Company (OOC) have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore co-operation and joint investment opportunities following a ministerial meeting in Muscat.
Riyadh needs a gas programme

8 March 2009, 12:38 GMT
The kingdom needs to build a new non-associated gas programme to ensure it has sufficient supplies to feed its national network.
Engineers face ban on distance working in Libya

6 March 2009, 16:18 GMT
Firms seek talks with National Oil Company over plans to allow only those based in Libya to bid for work.
Riyadh investment funds to support Jizan

6 March 2009, 16:06 GMT
SIDF and PIF to offer help to contractors struggling to secure finance for the multi-billion-dollar scheme.
ExxonMobil in line for Awali work

6 March 2009, 15:45 GMT
The US’ ExxonMobil Corporation has emerged as the front runner for a deal to develop deep gas reserves at Awali, Bahrain’s largest gas field.
Oil production cuts hit Saudi gas ouput

5 March 2009, 16:08 GMT
Keeping oil production in line with Opec's quotas has left the kingdom with an unexpected gas shortage.
Aramco renegotiates oil projects

5 March 2009, 16:02 GMT
Saudi Aramco has started talks with international contractors over renegotiating the terms of major oil projects that have yet to be awarded.
Shell awards Pearl deal to Harsco

5 March 2009, 13:30 GMT
US engineering company Harsco has won an equipment award from the UK/Dutch Shell Group as part of ongoing construction works on its $16bn Pearl gas-to-liquids (GTL) plant at Ras Laffan in Qatar.
Eni launches pilot Libyan gas project

5 March 2009, 13:06 GMT
Italian oil major Eni is to launch Libya’s first water alternating gas (Wag) scheme as part of its programme to increase reserves at the Bu Attifel field in the east Sirte basin.
Addax lines up Kurdistan export pipeline

4 March 2009, 17:00 GMT
Canada’s Addax Petroleum is to procure long-lead items for the construction of an export pipeline after installing an early production system at its Taq Taq field in Iraq’s Kurdistan region.
Gulfsands issues Syrian oil field reserve estimates

4 March 2009, 14:10 GMT
The UK’s Gulfsands Petroleum has estimated the amount of preliminary oil in place at its Yousefieh field in Syria following the completion of drilling at its second well.
Iraq signs $400m drilling rig deal

4 March 2009, 13:46 GMT
Baghdad's state-run Iraq Drilling Company has signed a $400m joint venture agreement with the UK's Mesopotamia Petroleum Company (MPC) for the purchase and operation of 12 new drilling rigs.
Jordan requests bids for oil blocks

3 March 2009, 15:57 GMT
Jordan’s state-run National Resources Authority (NRA) has opened a new bid round for two large oil blocks. International energy companies are required to submit bids by 31 May.
Lukoil submits gas plan to Saudi ministry

3 March 2009, 13:14 GMT
Lukoil Saudi Arabia (Luksar), the joint venture between Saudi Aramco and Russia’s Lukoil, has submitted an appraisal plan for two discoveries to the Ministry of Petroleum & Mineral Resources after completing a nine-well drilling programme in the kingdom’s Empty Quarter.
Saudi Electricity Company awards Manifa contracts

3 March 2009, 12:29 GMT
Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) has awarded separate management and construction contracts at the Manifa oil field for a new substation and the expansion of the existing 115kV Abu Hadriya substation to 380kV.
Maaden agrees aluminium cooperation deal with Rio Tinto Alcan

2 March 2009, 15:50 GMT
Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maaden) has signed two agreements including a technology transfer deal with the UK/Australian Rio Tinto Alcan as part of its mine-to-metal aluminium project.
Saudi prequalifies oil firms for Jizan refinery

2 March 2009, 15:14 GMT
Saudi Arabia has prequalified eight local companies and six foreign oil majors to bid for the Jizan oil refinery by the new 2 September deadline.
Aramco awards major Karan gas contracts

2 March 2009, 13:58 GMT
Saudi Aramco has confirmed the award of onshore engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts to South Korea's Hyundai Engineering & Construction and the UK's Petrofac for the development of its Karan gas field.
Aramco eases contract terms on Manifa and Jubail deals

1 March 2009, 7:42 GMT
Oil giant seeks to assist struggling contractors and attract lower prices.
Petrofac to win Karan gas deal

1 March 2009, 6:51 GMT
State oil giant Saudi Aramco is set to issue a letter of intent to UAE-based Petrofac International for the cogeneration and utilities package on the $8bn Karan gas field development.
Oilex prepares testing programme for Omani oil field

26 February 2009, 13:33 GMT
Australian energy company Oilex says preparations for its Al Jumd-1 testing programme in Oman’s Block 56 are being finalised, with an initial flow period planned to be completed between 6-8 March.
Qatari firm receives finance for Ras Laffan service centre

26 February 2009, 13:12 GMT
Qatar’s Oryx Engineering Solutions has agreed a finance deal with Bahrain’s Bank Muscat International (BMI) for the construction of an engineering centre at Ras Laffan.
Aramco assesses interest from Ras Tanura contractors

26 February 2009, 13:08 GMT
More than 40 companies have submitted prequalification applications for construction work on Saudi Aramco’s Ras Tanura refinery, following a delay to the bid deadline.
UK contractor fights back in Qatar dispute with Maersk

25 February 2009, 13:43 GMT
UK-based construction firm SLP Engineering has rejected a series of accusations by Maersk Oil Qatar relating to work on Maersk’s offshore Al-Shaheen oil field development. In a statement issued on 20 February, Maersk Oil Qatar, the local subsidiary of Denmark’s Maersk Oil & Gas, revealed that it had initiated arbitration against SLP after terminating the firm’s contract for delivery of offshore accommodation platforms in September 2008.
Italian firm wins Ras Abu Ali upgrade contract

25 February 2009, 13:09 GMT
Saudi Aramco has awarded Italian contractor Bonatti a SR594m ($158m) contract to upgrade the water injection facilities at the Ras Abu Ali plant which handles gas-oil separation for the Berri oil field.
Aramco and Conoco receive interest in delayed Yanbu refinery

25 February 2009, 12:10 GMT
Saudi Aramco and the US’ ConocoPhillips have received solicitations of interest from at least 10 contractors for their delayed 400,000-barrel-a-day (b/d) Yanbu export refinery.
Iraq signs oil swap deal with South Korea

24 February 2009, 13:46 GMT
Iraq has signed an innovative energy deal with South Korea which will see Seoul invest $3.55bn worth of infrastructure in return for the right to export oil from fields in the southern Basra region.
Firms line up for Pearl gas service deal

24 February 2009, 13:35 GMT
Eight companies have prequalified for lucrative integrated service contracts on $16bn-plus Pearl gas-to-liquids (GTL) facility at Ras Laffan, planned by the UK/Dutch Shell Group.
Qatargas delays gas recovery award

24 February 2009, 13:31 GMT
Qatargas has delayed the issue of an engineering, procurement and construction award for a gas recovery project at Ras Laffan.
Petrobras to fund Caspian Sea exploration

22 February 2009, 7:43 GMT
Brazilian oil giant plans to spend $250m on initial drilling after signing landmark production-sharing deal.
Hyundai in line for Karan gas award

22 February 2009, 7:14 GMT
State-owned energy giant Saudi Aramco is expected to award a $1.2bn engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) deal to South Korea’s Hyundai Engineering & Construction to build a gas-processing unit for the Karan gas field development.
Iraq awards Karbala refinery deal to Technip

20 February 2009, 12:19 GMT
Iraq's State Company for Oil Projects (Scop) has awarded France's Technip a Eur20m ($25.2m) front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract for the construction of a new refinery in Karbala.
Canadian firm starts Kurdistan oil study

20 February 2009, 11:46 GMT
Canadian oil company Niko Resources has started a seismic acquisition programme at the Qara Dagh block in Iraq’s Kurdistan region.
Oil majors submit bids for Iraq’s Nasiriyah field

20 February 2009, 11:01 GMT
Three international companies have submitted bids to Iraq’s Oil Ministry for an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) deal on its Nasiriyah oil field.
Foster Wheeler wins Basra oil export award

19 February 2009, 13:34 GMT
Iraq's South Oil Company has formally awarded a front end engineering and design (FEED) contract to the US' Foster Wheeler for new oil export facilities to supplement the existing Basra export terminal.
Total denies South Pars gas deal imminent

19 February 2009, 12:51 GMT
France’s Total has denied an official Iranian media report that it will sign an agreement with National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) in March for the development of the South Pars gas field.
Technip says talks continuing on delayed Qatargas venture

19 February 2009, 12:34 GMT
French oil and gas contractor Technip says it is still in discussions with Qatar Liquefied Gas Company (Qatargas) over delivering the delayed Qatargas 3 and 4 ventures.
Firms prepare Sharjah crude storage bids

18 February 2009, 13:18 GMT
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company for Distribution (Adnoc Fod) has issued a tender for an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to build a fuel storage facility in Sharjah’s Hamriyah free zone.
German firm buys stake in Damietta gas licence in Egypt

18 February 2009, 12:55 GMT
German gas firm Eon Ruhrgas has bought a 29 per cent stake in the northwest Damietta offshore exploration licence in the Nile Delta from Shell Egypt.
Firms prepare bids for Bab oil field compressor

18 February 2009, 12:18 GMT
Six groups are expected to submit commercial bids on 24 February to Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations (Adco) for the contract to install gas compressors at its onshore Bab field.
Rak Petroleum starts production at Oman's West Bukha field

17 February 2009, 13:10 GMT
UAE exploration firm Rak Petroleum has started production from the West Bukha field in Oman’s Block 8 after acquiring the acreage from Indago Petroleum in early 2007.
Oil majors register interest in Bahrain gas round

17 February 2009, 12:41 GMT
Bahrain's National Oil and Gas Authority (Noga) says 18 international companies have prequalified for a new onshore deep gas exploration round which it is carrying out to meet rising domestic demand.
Mohammed al-Mojil Group wins Jubail ethylene work

17 February 2009, 12:24 GMT
Saudi Arabian firm Mohammed al-Mojil Group (MMG) has won a SR408m ($109m) sub-contract for construction work on the ethylene package at the National ChevronPhillips olefins complex at Jubail.
State oil giants Adco and Aramco improve contract terms

1 February 2009, 9:11 GMT
Adco and Saudi Aramco are easing conditions for contractors in a bid to reduce construction costs.
Falling oil dents Baghdad’s plans

1 February 2009, 6:58 GMT
Iraq’s oil and gas industry has been almost static since the US invasion six years ago, but 2009 is shaping up to be the year that defines the country’s energy ambitions.
Oil firms express doubts over Iraq's bid round

25 January 2009, 10:17 GMT
Concerns mount over interest in Iraq’s first field auction as economic climate deters investors.
Qatargas to produce gas from fourth train in February

23 January 2009, 13:55 GMT
Qatar Liquefied Gas Company (Qatargas) is expected to produce the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) from its fourth train by the second week of February, more than six months later than originally scheduled.
Schlumberger suffers fall in Middle East revenues

23 January 2009, 13:34 GMT
US oil services company Schlumberger says its fourth quarter revenues fell to $6.25bn, partly due to a downturn in activity in the Middle East.
Oil nears $45 a barrel on deep Opec cuts

22 January 2009, 12:51 GMT
Oil prices rose close to the $45 a barrel mark as supply cuts from Opec member countries outweighed fresh fears over the near-term outlook for energy demand.
Shell considers expansion of Saudi styrene plant

22 January 2009, 12:29 GMT
Saudi Petrochemical Company (Sadaf), a joint venture between Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) and the UK/Dutch Shell Group, is considering the expansion of its existing styrene plant.
Qatargas signs plant upgrade deal following breakdown

22 January 2009, 12:03 GMT
Qatar Liquefied Gas Company (Qatargas) has signed an automation upgrade deal for its Qatargas 1 facility, days after having to shut down the plant due to a machinery breakdown.
Qatar Petroleum launches design phase for ecological park

21 January 2009, 13:03 GMT
Qatar Petroleum (QP) has launched a front-end engineering and design (FEED) tender for an ecological park at Mesaieed Industrial City in the south of the state.
Sharjah rig facility nears completion despite spending delays

21 January 2009, 12:47 GMT
Engineering services firm Lamprell has delayed some spending on a new deep water rig construction facility in Sharjah’s Hamriyah free zone but still expects to complete the project by the end of March.
Egypt delays bid deadline for gas block

21 January 2009, 11:54 GMT
Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (Egas) has delayed the closing date for bids on one of its offshore blocks until the end of March, from the original 9 February deadline.
Petrobras to decided on Iran exploration deal this month

20 January 2009, 13:01 GMT
Brazil’s Petrobras expects to make an investment decision by the end of January on its planned development of Iranian oil and gas reserves in the Caspian Sea.
Shell names chief for Empty Quarter gas exploration

20 January 2009, 12:27 GMT
Saudi Aramco and the UK/Dutch Shell Group have appointed Kamal Al-Yahya as the new chief executive of the South Rub al-Khali Company (Srak) which is drilling for gas in the Empty Quarter.
Shell awards Libya seismic contract

20 January 2009, 12:05 GMT
The UK/Dutch Shell Group has awarded a seismic contract to BGP, the geophysical division of Chinese oil company China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), for a survey on a gas exploration block in Libya.
Qatar resumes gas supplies from Qatargas 1 plant

19 January 2009, 14:10 GMT
Qatar Liquefied Gas Company (Qatargas) expects to restart liquefied natural gas (LNG) production from its Qatargas 1 plant by 22 January, following a machinery breakdown.
Masdar signs deal to cut Abu Dhabi emissions

19 January 2009, 13:01 GMT
Abu Dhabi's Masdar initiative has signed an agreement with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from five of the emirate’s main oil and gas facilities.
Iraq announces first workshop to discuss oil licensing round

19 January 2009, 11:06 GMT
Iraq is to hold a workshop in Turkey next month to hear feedback from prequalified international oil companies (IOCs) about the draft model contract for the first oil licensing round.
OMV exits Ruwais refinery deal

18 January 2009, 13:49 GMT
OMV seeks new ventures leaving remaining shares with Takreer and Neste.
Aramco lifts gloom with $2bn Yanbu refinery upgrade award

18 January 2009, 12:16 GMT
Yanbu upgrade goes to WorleyParsons as bidders line up for $10bn Ras Tanura refinery on the East Coast.
Oil price stays below $40 a barrel due to demand uncertainty

15 January 2009, 12:25 GMT
Oil prices remained stuck under the $40 a barrel mark in mid-January, with rising crude inventories and a drop in US retail sales raising fresh fears over the near-term outlook for energy demand.
Iraq poised to award additional refinery deals

15 January 2009, 11:59 GMT
Iraq is poised to award two more design contracts for refineries in the north and south of the country this month to the US' Stone & Webster, part of the Shaw Group.
China wins North Azadegan oil field contract in Iran

15 January 2009, 11:27 GMT
National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) have agreed a deal for the development of the North Azadegan oil field which holds about 6 billion barrels of crude.
Borouge launches Ruwais olefins project management tender

14 January 2009, 12:45 GMT
Abu Dhabi Polymers Company (Borouge) has launched the project management consultancy tender for the third-phase expansion of its multi-billion-dollar Ruwais olefins complex.
Apscop and Cetco target Libyan oil field services

14 January 2009, 12:08 GMT
Libyan oil services agency Althuraya Petroleum Services & Supplies (Apscop) has signed a deal with the UK’s Cetco Oilfield Services to provide water treatment solutions to the Libyan oil and gas sector.
Oman awards water treatment contract for Nimr oil field

14 January 2009, 11:36 GMT
Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) has awarded a sewage treatment contract to Germany's Bauer Environment Group contract for the development of its Nimr oil field.
Iraq close to awarding design contracts for two refineries

13 January 2009, 13:22 GMT
Iraq is expected to award the design contracts for two refineries by the end of January, as it seeks to increase refining capacity and reduce its dependence on importing refined products.
Occidental wins Bahrain oil field contract

13 January 2009, 12:51 GMT
Bahrain has awarded an oil field contract to the US' Occidental Petroleum for a deal to more than double production from the country's Awali oil field.
Canada’s Verenex makes oil find in Libya

12 January 2009, 12:39 GMT
A fresh oil discovery has been made in Libya by a consortium of Canada's Verenex Energy and the state-run National Oil Corporation (NOC).
Dana Gas makes gas discovery in Egypt

12 January 2009, 12:10 GMT
The UAE’s Dana Gas has made a gas and condensate discovery in Egypt at its Salma-1 well in the Nile Delta Concession, with reserves of 150 billion cubic feet of gas.
Saudi Aramco shaves $2bn off cost of Karan field development

11 January 2009, 9:37 GMT
Energy giant to award contracts after receiving cheaper prices from contractors.
Oil prices near $40 a barrel on economic woes

8 January 2009, 17:21 GMT
The price of oil fell back to near the $40 a barrel mark on 8 January, despite hitting a five-week high above $50 earlier in the week, over renewed fears about the impact of the global recession on fuel use.
Boskalis wins Safaniyah oil field contract

8 January 2009, 16:15 GMT
Italy's Saipem has awarded a sub-contract on the offshore Safaniyah oil field development to the Netherlands' Royal Boskalis Westminster, covering dredging work for a crude pipeline to the mainland.
Qapco weighs up bids for polyethylene plant

7 January 2009, 12:28 GMT
Qatar Petrochemical Company (Qapco) is assessing bids from three contractors for the main engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract on its $400-500m low-density polyethylene plant, known as LDPE-3.
Contractors prepare for talks on expansion of Fertil plant

7 January 2009, 11:49 GMT
The UAE's Ruwais Fertiliser Industries (Fertil) will start technical discussions with three bidders on 20 January for the contract to expand its urea-based fertiliser complex.
Kuwait re-opens bidding for clean fuels project

6 January 2009, 13:21 GMT
Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) has reopened the prequalification process for contractors on the Clean Fuels Project after lengthy delays incurred last year due to a related contract dispute on the Al-Zour refinery.
Saudi Aramco makes new oil and gas finds

6 January 2009, 12:59 GMT
Saudi Aramco has discovered five new oil fields and three new gas fields in the Eastern Province, including a new find at the massive Khursaniyah field which recently started production.
Abu Dhabi to launch Ruwais refinery development by end of January

5 January 2009, 12:31 GMT
Abu Dhabi Oil Refining Company (Takreer) is expected to launch the tendering process by the end of January for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) phase of its Ruwais refinery expansion.
Abu Dhabi delays integrated gas development bids

5 January 2009, 12:02 GMT
Abu Dhabi has delayed the date for technical bids on the long-awaited onshore portion of its integrated gas development (IGD), which is aimed at significantly boosting the emirate's gas production.
LyondellBasell considers filing for bankruptcy protection

2 January 2009, 17:24 GMT
The major Netherlands-based refiner and petrochemicals producer LyondellBasell, which has several joint ventures in the Middle East, says it could file for bankruptcy protection in the US as it seeks a way to restructure its debt.
Italy looks to North Africa to replace lost Ukrainian gas supplies

2 January 2009, 17:06 GMT
Italy could increase gas imports from North Africa if Russia’s decision to halt gas exports to Ukraine leads to a supply shortage in the rest of Europe.
Energy majors prepare bids for Egyptian gas fields

2 January 2009, 16:18 GMT
International energy companies are preparing to submit bids for Egypt's first new gas exploration programme in more than two years aimed.
Iran pushes ahead with South Pars phases 22-24

2 January 2009, 15:35 GMT
Iran's Pars Oil & Gas Company (POGC) is moving ahead with the development of phases 22-24 of the South Pars gas field after launching a pre-qualification tender for the front-end engineering and design (FEED) consultancy contract.
Region failing to boost gas supplies

2 January 2009, 9:34 GMT
International Energy Agency to put pressure on Middle East to meet rising demand for gas, which is set to increase further by 2030.
Energy outlook: Gulf energy demand to soar

2 January 2009, 9:04 GMT
Energy subsidies must be revised if the region is to meet gas and oil production targets.
Energy outlook: Gulf energy demand to soar

2 January 2009, 9:04 GMT
Energy subsidies must be revised if the region is to meet gas and oil production targets.
Saudi Aramco and Dow Chemical approach contractors over Ras Tanura

2 January 2009, 7:59 GMT
Joint venture floats build-own-operate terms in a bid to minimise costs.
Iraq launches second oil licensing round

31 December 2008, 12:17 GMT
Iraq’s Oil Ministry has launched its second oil licensing round, with 10 oil fields and one gas field on offer to international oil companies.
Aramco assesses resubmitted Karan gas bids

31 December 2008, 11:51 GMT
Saudi Aramco is assessing new bids from at least five companies for a platforms and pipelines package on its Karan gas field.
Qatar Airways reduces fuel surcharges on lower oil price

31 December 2008, 11:26 GMT
Qatar Airways has reduced its fuel surcharge on flights from Doha by 15 per cent to reflect the lower crude oil and jet fuel prices of recent months.
Firms line up for Libya onshore drilling contract

31 December 2008, 11:20 GMT
Five firms are expected to bid for an onshore drilling contract for Total Exploration & Production Libya , a subsidiary of France's Total, with the formal tender process expected to begin in early January.
Medgaz consortium completes pipeline between Algeria and Spain

30 December 2008, 17:01 GMT
The international natural gas consortium Medgaz has completed the process of laying pipeline between the Algerian and Spanish coasts, with the project on-track for start-up in the second half of 2009.
More than ten firms prequalify for Libya drilling contract

30 December 2008, 12:20 GMT
Turkish Petroleum Overseas Company has prequalified more than ten companies for the contract to provide drilling rig services in the Murzuq basin in Libya.
Oman targets oil production boost in 2009

30 December 2008, 11:46 GMT
Oman expects to boost oil production by 50,000 barrels-a-day (b/d) in 2009 to 810,000 b/d, according to the Oil Ministry.
Saudi Aramco awards Jubail refinery construction deal

30 December 2008, 10:52 GMT
Saudi Aramco and France’s Total have awarded a construction facilities deal on their 400,000 barrel-a-day (b/d) Jubail refinery joint venture to the local Contracting & Construction Enterprises (CCE).
Tripoli buys six oil tankers

30 December 2008, 10:38 GMT
Libya’s General National Maritime Transport Company (GNMTC) has placed orders for six oil tankers, benefiting from recent global financial turmoil which has seen tanker prices fall sharply.
Libya: Construction of building, removal of parking lot

29 December 2008, 12:34 GMT
Construction of building, removal of parking lot. Closing date: 8 January 2009
Middle East oil exports to Japan fall

29 December 2008, 11:56 GMT
Exports of crude oil from the Middle East to Japan fell 10 per cent year-on-year and 3 percent month-on-month in November, according to new statistics from Japan's Economy, Industry & Trade Ministry.
Firms line up for South Pars rig contract

29 December 2008, 11:47 GMT
National Iranian Drilling Company has prequalified six companies for the contract to lease drilling rigs for use on phase 17-18 of the South Pars gas field development.
Iraq prepares for second oil licensing round

29 December 2008, 11:44 GMT
Iraq’s Oil Ministry is to launch its second oil licensing bid round on 31 December with 14 oil fields and two gas fields to be offered to international oil companies.
Kuwait cancels $17bn joint venture with Dow Chemicals

29 December 2008, 10:37 GMT
Kuwait’s Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC) has cancelled its agreement with Dow Chemicals to enter into a 50-50 joint venture, K-Dow, the value of which had been estimated at $17bn.
Gas exporting countries agree to set up Qatari headquarters

24 December 2008, 11:07 GMT
The Gas Exporting Countries Forum has agreed a formal charter and headquarters, laying the groundwork for greater co-operation between member states.
Iran: Engineering services for South Pars gas field

23 December 2008, 17:58 GMT
Engineering services for South Pars gas field.
Kuwait: Construction and maintenance of operation building at ammonia plant

23 December 2008, 17:41 GMT
The construction and maintenance of operation building at ammonia plant.
Saudi Chevron approaches contractors over Divided Zone contract

23 December 2008, 13:38 GMT
Saudi Arabian Chevron (SAC), a subsidiary of the US' Chevron Corporation, has approached contractors for a front-end engineering and design (FEED) study to boost output from the Wafra, South Umm Gudair and South Fuwaris oil fields in the Divided Zone by 200,000-barrels-a-day (b/d).
Muscat to re-tender Sohar refinery contract

23 December 2008, 13:16 GMT
Oman Refineries & Petrochemicals Company (ORPC) is expected to retender the contract on its planned bitumen plant at the 116,000-barrel-a-day (b/d) Sohar refinery early next year.
Kuwait Oil Company agrees additional financing for pipeline

23 December 2008, 12:05 GMT
Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) has awarded the local Combined Group Company KD8.79m ($32m) in further financing for an oil pipeline construction project in the north of the country.
Qatar: Industrial cleaners for Dukhan fields

22 December 2008, 17:41 GMT
Provision of industrial cleaners for Dukhan fields. Closing date: 28 December 2008.
Libya: Moored semi-submersible drilling unit equipment

22 December 2008, 17:26 GMT
Supply of a moored semi-submersible drilling unit and associated equipment and services. Closing date: 30 December.
Libya: Engineering and Design Review for De-Bottlenecking

22 December 2008, 17:23 GMT
Engineering and design review of existing gas-oil separation plant facilities and crude oil exporting system in El-Feel Field for de-bottlenecking. Closing date: 11 January 2009.
Occidental submits low bid for Bahrain Awali field development

22 December 2008, 12:41 GMT
The US' Occidental Petroleum has submitted the lowest bid to Bahrain's National Oil & Gas Authority (Noga) for a lucrative contract to more than double production from the country's Awali oil field.
Qatar sets new bid date for Al-Shaheen refinery

22 December 2008, 12:17 GMT
Qatar Petroleum has given contractors a new date for the submission of technical bids on its Al-Shaheen refinery, after postponing the original bid deadline earlier this month.
Falling oil prices force projects rethink

16 December 2008, 0:00 GMT
Countries around the region are scaling back ambitious plans launched on the back of record oil revenues.
Opec's El-Badri on the euro and oil dinosaurs

16 December 2008, 0:00 GMT
Despite record revenues, oil cartel Opec faces some tough decisions, such as whether to abandon dollar pricing.
Qatar Petrochemicals Company

16 December 2008, 0:00 GMT
The Qatar Petroleum subsidiary is at the heart of the state’s bid to diversify its petrochemicals sector.
Yousef Hussein Kamal on tackling inflation in Qatar

16 December 2008, 0:00 GMT
The long-standing Qatari minister discusses his plans to develop new industries and tackle rising inflation.
Abu Dhabi asks firms to resubmit bids for Sas oil and gas deal

12 December 2008, 13:36 GMT
Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations (Adco) has asked contractors to resubmit lower prices for the company’s $4.5bn Sahil, Asab and Shah (Sas) full-field development by the first week of January.
Baghdad seeks to fast-track oil deals

12 December 2008, 13:30 GMT
Legislation could allow the Oil Ministry to shortlist preferred contractors for oil and gas projects.
Qatar Petroleum delays tenders for Al-Shaheen refinery

12 December 2008, 13:25 GMT
Qatar Petroleum (QP) is to delay the tendering of key contracts on its proposed $5bn Al-Shaheen refinery by up to six months as part of a review of engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) prices.
Aramco defies gloom with launch of Ras Tanura package

12 December 2008, 13:11 GMT
State energy firm Saudi Aramco and the US’ Dow Chemical Company are to defy the gloom surrounding the downstream energy sector by launching the first package on the upgrade of the Ras Tanura integrated refinery and petrochemicals complex by the end of January.
Region faces 20-year gas shortfall

12 December 2008, 12:42 GMT
International Energy Agency says investment must increase and subsidies need a radical overhaul.
Baghdad needs fast-track rules for energy sector

12 December 2008, 12:05 GMT
Iraq is starting to lay the groundwork to ease the bottlenecks that will arise in the engineering and construction phases of development.
Oil price rises to $45 after Riyadh cuts ouput

11 December 2008, 14:30 GMT
The oil price rose by more than five per cent to top $45 after Saudi Arabia revealed it had cut crude output by more than analysts had expected, ahead of an Opec meeting on 17 December.
Kuwait delays bids for compressor contract

11 December 2008, 13:56 GMT
Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) has delayed bids for the contract to install new compressors at three gathering centres by three weeks.
Qatar Petroleum invites bids for Mesaieed gas facility contract

10 December 2008, 18:18 GMT
Qatar Petroleum (QP) has invited contractors to bid for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract covering the $200m gas sweetening facilities integrated project at Mesaieed.
Abu Dhabi delays bid date for Bab oil compressor deal

10 December 2008, 17:31 GMT
Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations (Adco) has delayed the submission date for commercial bids by two months for the contract to install gas compressors at its onshore Bab field.
Qatargas set to award Ras Laffan gas recovery contract

9 December 2008, 16:05 GMT
Qatargas is expected to issue an engineering, procurement and construction award for a gas recovery project at Ras Laffan by the end of December, with seven contractors in line for the contract.
Baghdad predicts oil law will be approved in 2009

9 December 2008, 15:39 GMT
Iraq expects to enact its long-awaited hydrocarbons law by the spring of 2009, according to a senior government figure in Baghdad. The fourth draft of the law is currently being prepared to pave the way for a revamp of the country’s energy industry.
Qatargas invites bid for liquefied natural gas deal

8 December 2008, 16:09 GMT
Qatargas is to invite contractors to bid in early 2009 for the onshore component of its plateau maintenance project for Qatargas I.
Iraq considers new Basra oil export terminal

8 December 2008, 15:44 GMT
Iraq is in talks with contractors over the construction of a new offshore crude export terminal at Basra, in addition to the rehabilitation of the existing facility.
Baghdad to set up state bank to attract oil and gas investors

5 December 2008, 18:37 GMT
Authorities consider privatising government bodies that control the sector.
International firms line up for acreage in Qatar

5 December 2008, 18:32 GMT
Qatar Petroleum (QP) has prequalified at least 10 international oil companies (IOCs) for the second of four gas blocks following the award of Block 4 North to Ger-many’s Wintershall in November.
Kuwait Oil Company to boost output despite oil price falls

5 December 2008, 17:53 GMT
KOC invites 18 firms to bid for contract to build $500m gathering centre.
Foster Wheeler wins project management role at Ras Tanura

5 December 2008, 17:18 GMT
The US’ Foster Wheeler is to work alongside the US’ KBR to project manage the $22-26bn Ras Tanura refinery upgrade and integrated petrochemicals complex.
Algeria delays oil licence bid deadline

2 December 2008, 17:14 GMT
Algeria has delayed the bid deadline for 45 onshore blocks and zones in the eastern and central parts of the country until 13 December from the original 3 December deadline.
Kuwait and Dow announce $17bn joint venture

2 December 2008, 15:36 GMT
Kuwait's Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC) and the US' Dow Chemical Company have ended rumours that their petrochemical joint venture is on hold after announcing that the venture will start work on 1 January 2009.
Algeria delays oil round bid date

2 December 2008, 13:07 GMT
Algeria has delayed the bid deadline for 45 onshore blocks and zones in the eastern and central parts of the country until 13 December from the original 3 December deadline.
Saudi Aramco cancels bidding for Dammam capacity study

28 November 2008, 19:41 GMT
Saudi Aramco is instructing international contractors that a plan to increase output at its $1.2bn Dammam field to 100,000 barrels-a-day (b/d) has been cancelled as a result of its ongoing review of its project portfolio.
China National Petroleum to take stake in South Pars field

28 November 2008, 19:35 GMT
Tehran renews push to attract investment to beleagured energy sector.
Takreer to split Ruwais project into eight contracts

28 November 2008, 19:22 GMT
Abu Dhabi Oil Refining Company (Takreer) is splitting the first engineering, procurement and construction phase for the expansion of its Ruwais refinery into eight packages, ahead of the formal tendering period next month.
Sonatrach to consider field swaps for future bid rounds in Algeria

28 November 2008, 18:27 GMT
Further trade-offs possible as Sonatrach seeks to broaden its spread of assets.
Oil price falls as demand slumps

27 November 2008, 16:14 GMT
Oil slumped back under $55 a barrel as demand for US crude continued to shrink over concerns about the scale of a global recession.
Kuwait prepares response to audit report on Al-Zour contracts

27 November 2008, 13:44 GMT
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) is preparing a response to the State Audit Bureau after receiving its report on disputed contracts on the delayed Al-Zour refinery.
Firms prepare gas compressor bids for Bab oil field

26 November 2008, 14:14 GMT
Six bidding groups are preparing to submit commercial bids to Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations (Adco) for the contract to install gas compressors at its onshore Bab field.
Shell and Turkey prepare joint Kirkuk oil bid

26 November 2008, 13:51 GMT
The UK/Dutch Shell Group is expected to make a joint bid for Iraq’s giant Kirkuk field with Turkey’s state-run energy firm Tpao, after the two firms signed a memorandum of understanding to consider gas exploration and production opportunities earlier this month.
Abu Dhabi's Ipic buys $1bn stake in Australia's Oil Search

25 November 2008, 16:16 GMT
Abu Dhabi government-owned International Petroleum Investment Company (Ipic) has bought a $Aus1.7bn ($1.1bn) stake in Australian energy firm Oil Search from the government of Papua New Guinea (PNG), to gain exposure to the latter's planned liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant.
Abu Dhabi awards Bab oil deal to Petrofac

25 November 2008, 15:00 GMT
Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Operations (Adco) has awarded an engineering consultancy contract to the UK’s Petrofac to ease bottlenecks in equipment at the onshore North East Bab field.
Firms invited to bid for Kuwait oil pipeline project

24 November 2008, 15:50 GMT
Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) has invited firms to bid for the contract to build oil export pipelines from the planned Gathering Centre 16 in west Kuwait and new water flowlines at the Managesh water injection project.
Mubadala and Occidental sign Oman gas deal

24 November 2008, 14:52 GMT
Abu Dhabi government-owned Mubadala Development Company has signed an exploration and production- sharing deal to search for gas in Oman with the US’ Occidental Petroleum Corporation.
Four firms bid for Fertil urea contract as Jubail project stalls

21 November 2008, 21:03 GMT
The UAE’s Ruwais Fertiliser Industries (Fertil) expects to attract four bids for the contract to expand its urea-based fertiliser complex next month, while plans for a fifth urea train at Saudi Arabia’s Jubail fertiliser complex are being re-evaluated.
Aramco plans Manifa production boost

21 November 2008, 20:57 GMT
State oil giant conducts study on increasing output levels at the field despite contractor price talks.
Doha pushes ahead with plan for two petrochemicals plants

21 November 2008, 20:41 GMT
Multi-billion-dollar investment comes despite falling demand for plastics.
Kuwait Oil Company invites bids to boost output

21 November 2008, 20:24 GMT
Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) has invited contractors to bid for phase two of its early production facility (EPF) project, which will more than triple output from its gas fields by 2011.
Saipem denies losing Manifa oil contract

21 November 2008, 16:51 GMT
Italy’s Saipem, parent company of Snamprogetti, has denied rumours that Saudi Aramco has cancelled a multi-billion dollar construction contract on the Manifa oil field development.
Oil price falls below $50 as demand slumps

20 November 2008, 16:02 GMT
The oil price plummeted under $50 a barrel, its lowest level in almost two years, as US crude demand shrunk at its fastest pace since the 1980s amid concerns over a global recession.
KBR wins Egyptian polyethylene study contract

20 November 2008, 14:31 GMT
The US’ KBR has been awarded a pre-front end engineering and design contract for two polyethylene units at a planned petrochemicals complex near Suez.
Sabic and ExxonMobil agree provisional rubber deal

19 November 2008, 17:40 GMT
Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) and the US’ ExxonMobil Chemical have signed a heads of agreement to manufacture 400,000 tonnes-a-year (t/y) of synthetic rubber products at their joint venture plants at Jubail and Yanbu.
Kuwait extends Al-Zour pipeline bidding deadline

19 November 2008, 16:50 GMT
State upstream operator Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) has extended the bidding deadline for the contract to build an oil pipeline network serving the planned refinery at Al-Zour for the fourth time. The deadline has been postponed from 18 November to 16 December.
Takreer to hold Ruwais refinery expansion talks

18 November 2008, 15:16 GMT
Abu Dhabi Oil Refining Company (Takreer) is to launch the engineering, procurement and construction phase for the expansion of its Ruwais refinery at the end of November.
Wintershall wins Qatar gas exploration deal

18 November 2008, 14:43 GMT
Germany’s Wintershall has won a 25-year exploration and production-sharing agreement covering the first new gas acreage awarded in Qatar in several years.
Aramco enters talks with oil majors to reduce costs

14 November 2008, 23:13 GMT
Saudi oil major seeks to renegotiate contracts with contractors and suppliers following a drop in oil prices.
Firms submit bids for $5bn Gasco plant in Abu Dhabi

14 November 2008, 23:07 GMT
Firms have submitted technical bids for the project management consultancy (PMC) contract for the four main engineering, procurement and construction packages on Abu Dhabi’s $5bn-plus integrated gas development (IGD).
Shell seeks to fast-track gas exports from Iraq

14 November 2008, 22:39 GMT
Oil major commissions study of southern Iraqi gas fields to secure supply of liquefied natural gas.
United Industries seeks land deal

14 November 2008, 21:39 GMT
Group enters talks with Petrochemical Industries Company aimed at securing land for chemicals plant.
Risky plans in Saudi Arabia will have to wait

14 November 2008, 21:10 GMT
The biggest problem for Saudi Aramco is working out how to make long-term plans at a time of such volatile prices.
Tehran suffers as finance dries up

13 November 2008, 17:08 GMT
While Iranian firms are finding ways to side-step US sanctions, the financial crisis is making it difficult for them to attract foreign investment.
Clients in the Gulf gain the upper hand

13 November 2008, 16:56 GMT
The past few weeks have seen a series of decisions taken by clients in the Gulf energy and power sectors to delay projects in the hope that changing market conditions and falling commodity prices will act in their favour and help them secure lower prices for the schemes.
South Koreans win Arzew refinery deal

12 November 2008, 17:45 GMT
Naftec, the refining arm of state energy company Sonatrach, has awarded a $400m contract for the upgrade of its ageing refinery at Arzew to a consortium of three South Korean firms.
Qatargas awards gas deal to Emerson Process Management

12 November 2008, 17:25 GMT
Qatargas has awarded a five-year support and service agreement to the US’ Emerson Process Management for the expansion of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) operations.
Firms submit bids to Aramco for Karan gas package

11 November 2008, 16:36 GMT
Four companies have submitted bids to the client Saudi Aramco for a platforms and pipelines package at the Karan gas field.
O&G Engineering wins Kuwait gas pipeline deal

11 November 2008, 15:31 GMT
The local O&G Engineering General Trading & Contracting Company has been awarded a long-term contract worth KD19.3m ($71.5m) to provide maintenance services for the state's gas pipeline network.
Aramco delays Yanbu refinery bids

10 November 2008, 16:44 GMT
Saudi Aramco and the US oil major ConocoPhillips have delayed bidding on their planned $12bn, 400,000 barrel-a-day (b/d) Yanbu refinery, citing uncertainties in the financial and contracting markets.
Petrofac wins $544m gas pipeline contract

10 November 2008, 16:20 GMT
UAE-based Petrofac International has won the contract to build a major gas pipeline for Kuwait Oil Company (KOC), after submitting the lowest bid of KD147m ($544m).
Abu Dhabi struggles to attract interest in Shah gas package

7 November 2008, 19:06 GMT
Concerns mount over safety and maintenance of sulphur pipeline.
Financing problems force Muscat to delay Duqm refinery

7 November 2008, 18:29 GMT
Oman has placed its ambitious integrated Duqm refinery and petrochemicals complex on hold after raising doubts over securing vital project finance for the deal.
Abu Dhabi considers offshore deep gas licensing round

7 November 2008, 18:22 GMT
Shell could lose out on exploration and development deal to rival oil majors.
Abu Dhabi seeks to retender oil field deal

7 November 2008, 17:57 GMT
Gulf state-run companies seek to renegotiate deals as commodity and materials prices continue to fall.
Abu Dhabi must balance gas supply and demand

7 November 2008, 17:14 GMT
Abu Dhabi invests billions of dollars into megaprojects to increase gas capacity, despite problems extracting reserves.
Oil price falls amid concerns over global economy

6 November 2008, 13:29 GMT
The price of crude oil fell for the second day running, with figures showing a drop in fuel demand in the US amid continuing concern over the global outlook for the economy.
Polypropylene complex opens at Jubail

6 November 2008, 13:23 GMT
The local Advanced Polypropylene Company (APPC) has started operating its 455,000-tonne-a-year polypropylene facility at Jubail, following a 32-month engineering, procurement and construction phase.
BP to expand activities in Kuwait

5 November 2008, 17:42 GMT
The UK’s BP hopes to agree a deal for the development of oil and gas fields in Kuwait in the next six months, some 16 years after first signing a technical services agreement with Kuwait Oil Company.
Aramco reviews projects following oil price slump

5 November 2008, 17:39 GMT
Saudi Aramco is considering renegotiating contracts on its Manifa oil field increment and Karan gas field development in response to the recent fall in oil prices.
Abu Dhabi awards gas management deal to KBR

4 November 2008, 13:33 GMT
Abu Dhabi Gas Liquefaction Company (Adgas) has awarded a project management consultancy contract to the US’ KBR for a project aimed at cutting flare handling and gas emission levels from its Das island liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant.
Shell agrees supply deals for Qatar gas project

4 November 2008, 13:30 GMT
Qatar’s Pearl gas-to-liquids (GTL) venture has signed two supply deals, with Gulf Petroproducts Company (GPC) and India’s Tamilnadi Petroproducts, for over a quarter of the venture’s paraffin production of 6,000 barrels a day (b/d).
Jumah retires as Aramco chief executive officer

3 November 2008, 14:54 GMT
Saudi Aramco has promoted its operations head to chief executive officer (CEO), after the retirement of the long-serving Abdullah Jumah.
Adnoc signs gas deal with Shell

3 November 2008, 14:48 GMT
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) has signed a preliminary deal with the UK/Dutch Shell Group for the joint exploration, development and production of offshore gas fields in Abu Dhabi.
Petrobras puts Caspian Sea deal on hold

31 October 2008, 20:41 GMT
Brazil’s Petrobras has put the planned development of Iranian oil and gas reserves in the Caspian Sea on hold because of the global credit crunch.
Technip in line for sour gas study at offshore Hail field

31 October 2008, 20:31 GMT
France’s Technip is expected to win the pre-front-end engineering and design (FEED) package on Abu Dhabi’s offshore Hail sour gas field, one executive close to the project tells MEED.
Libyan oil merger plan is a hard sell

31 October 2008, 19:52 GMT
It is little wonder that oil companies are beating a path to Tripoli’s door. Any merger would struggle to attract political support.
Libyan state oil firm considers foreign merger

31 October 2008, 11:02 GMT
Libya's National Oil Corporation chairman Shokri Ghanem says it will join up with an international energy major within a decade.
Domestic demand threatens Iranian gas exports

30 October 2008, 21:34 GMT
Despite having the world’s second-largest gas reserves, Iran needs to take drastic action to curb spiralling domestic consumption that is hampering its ambitions to become a major global supplier.
Oil price hits $70 after US and China cut rates

30 October 2008, 15:16 GMT
The price of oil recovered above $70 a barrel for the first time in a week after the US and China, the two biggest consuming countries in the world, cut interest rates, sparking hopes of a global economic recovery.
Foster Wheeler confirms Libyan refinery deal

30 October 2008, 13:35 GMT
The US’ Foster Wheeler has been awarded a project management and consultancy contract for the development of a $4bn, 200,000-barrel-a-day (b/d) refinery in western Libya, which stalled earlier in 2008 after bankers pulled out of exploratory talks.
Shell appoints head of finance as chief executive officer

29 October 2008, 18:16 GMT
The UK/Dutch Shell Group has named its chief financial officer, Peter Voser, as its new chief executive officer, to take over from Jeroen van der Veer when he retires in July 2008.
Credit crunch set to hit financing of Aramco refineries

29 October 2008, 17:52 GMT
Saudi Aramco has admitted that financing its twin export refineries at Jubail and Yanbu is likely to be a challenge for its funding partners, France’s Total and the US’ ConocoPhillips.
Emal launches study for Taweelah smelter expansion

28 October 2008, 15:05 GMT
Emirates Aluminium (Emal) has launched the pre-feasibility study for the second phase expansion of its planned aluminium smelter at Taweelah in Abu Dhabi emirate.
Iran invites firms to prequalify for $3bn oil and gas tender

27 October 2008, 16:10 GMT
The state-run Iranian Central Oil Fields Company (ICOFC) has invited firms to prequalify for a tender worth an estimated $3bn, for the development of seven onshore oil fields and five onshore gas fields.
Bahrain launches tender round for deep gas exploration

27 October 2008, 15:29 GMT
Bahrain’s National Oil and Gas Authority (Noga) has launched a new onshore deep gas exploration round in an effort to meet rising domestic demand.
Abu Dhabi's Ipic forges ahead with refinery projects

24 October 2008, 23:00 GMT
Abu Dhabi company pursues $20bn plan to build three plants despite a gloomy global economic outlook.
Amec in line for onshore crude consultancy contract

24 October 2008, 22:55 GMT
Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations (Adco) is expected to award a project management consultancy contract to UK engineering firm Amec on the ‘1.8 million project’ to increase Abu Dhabi’s onshore crude production capacity by 400,000 barrels a day (b/d) to 1.8 million b/d.
Consortiums form for $5bn Al-Shaheen refinery

24 October 2008, 22:26 GMT
International contractors are holding talks over forming groups to bid for Qatar Petroleum’s (QP) proposed $5bn Al-Shaheen refinery, following a two-month extension to the bid deadline.
Energy expansion: Abu Dhabi must tread carefully

24 October 2008, 21:39 GMT
Energy fund’s diversification depends on the success of its high-risk expansion policy.
Opec cuts production by 1.5 million barrels a day

24 October 2008, 11:29 GMT
Opec has agreed to cut production by 1.5 million barrels a day (b/d) in response to an 'unprecedented' fall in prices and fears over short-term demand.
Foster Wheeler wins Libya refinery deal

23 October 2008, 17:39 GMT
The US’ Foster Wheeler has won a project management deal for the development of a 200,000-barrel-a-day (b/d) refinery in western Libya which stalled earlier this year after bankers pulled out of exploratory talks.
Oil price drops to $66 as market awaits Opec cut

23 October 2008, 16:45 GMT
The oil price hit a new 16-month low of $66 a barrel on the eve of an extraordinary Opec meeting on 24 October which is expected to cut supplies by at least 1 million barrels-a-day (b/d) in an effort to rebalance the market.
Oil and gas majors line up for Iraqi acreage

23 October 2008, 12:12 GMT
Despite onerous bidding conditions and the absence of an oil law, international oil companies are showing keen interest in the eight fields on offer in the country’s first post-war licensing round.
WesternGeco wins Libyan seismic deal

22 October 2008, 18:04 GMT
WesternGeco, part of oil field services giant Schlumberger, has won a contract from Russia’s Gazprom to gather 3D seismic data on its Ghadames Basin acreage in Libya.
Contractors receive extension for Honam cracker bids

22 October 2008, 17:49 GMT
Companies bidding for the contract to provide technology and build a mixed-feedstock cracker at Mesaieed have been given an extension until 27 October to submit their commercial bids.
Iran and Qatar agree gas co-operation deal with Russia

21 October 2008, 16:10 GMT
Iran, Qatar and Russia, which collectively hold more than half of the world’s gas reserves, have created a new technical committee to examine trilateral co-operation on gas supplies.
Sonatrach reduces gas production after pipeline cracks

21 October 2008, 15:50 GMT
Sonatrach is to cut liquefied natural gas production from its Arzew plant by up to 20 per cent until the end of 2008, due to a cracked pipeline.
Bahrain signs agreement with Hess to establish gas terminal

20 October 2008, 16:56 GMT
Bahrain has signed a memorandum of understanding with US firm Hess Corporation for the establishment of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal in the kingdom.
Iran and Qatar consider gas alliance with Gazprom

20 October 2008, 16:02 GMT
Iran and Qatar are to meet with the head of Russian oil giant Gazprom on 21 October to discuss potential gas co-operation opportunities.
Baghdad forces oil majors to form consortiums with rivals

17 October 2008, 18:42 GMT
Oil Ministry warns standalone bids will not win favour in licensing round.
Aramco fast-tracks upgrades at Manifa and Dammam

17 October 2008, 17:42 GMT
Planned production increase at Shaybah field to be postponed because of cost.
Energy majors will have to collaborate in Iraq

17 October 2008, 16:39 GMT
Given Iraq’s potential, oil majors are unlikely to be put off by political wrangling or contractual hurdles.
Oil price drops below $70 as financial uncertainty continues

16 October 2008, 17:23 GMT
Oil prices hit a 14-month low on 16 October, reaching less than $70 a barrel, after new trade figures in the US continued to rattle global financial markets.
Rawabi and Swiber to target GCC offshore oil projects

16 October 2008, 16:36 GMT
Saudi Arabia’s Rawabi Holding Company has formed a joint venture with Singapore’s Swiber Holdings to target offshore oil and gas projects in the GCC.
Gulf Keystone survey reveals large Iraq reserves

15 October 2008, 17:49 GMT
UK-listed company Gulf Keystone Petroleum estimates reserves of up to 2 billion barrels of oil are in place at its Shaikan block in Kurdistan following the completion of a 2D seismic survey.
Dana Gas discovery boosts Egyptian reserves

15 October 2008, 17:19 GMT
The UAE’s Dana Gas has boosted its Egyptian reserves by 20 per cent after making a third gas and condensate discovery at its West Manzala concession in the Nile Delta.
Verenex makes oil discovery in Libya

13 October 2008, 15:48 GMT
A fresh oil discovery has been made in Libya by a consortium of Canada's Verenex Energy and the state-run National Oil Corporation (NOC).
Foster Wheeler wins In Salah gas deal

13 October 2008, 15:32 GMT
The US’ Foster Wheeler has been awarded a front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract by the UK’s BP for second phase work on the In Salah zone in the southern Sahara area of Algeria.
Iran agrees Kuwait gas export deal

10 October 2008, 21:34 GMT
Iran has sealed a long-awaited deal to initially export gas to Kuwait via a trunk pipeline, with the first phase of the deal, which involves 1 billion cubic feet a day, (cf/d) starting by 2011.
Tehran agrees oil and gas with Petrobras

10 October 2008, 21:15 GMT
Contract with Brazil’s Petrobras to develop an oil and gas field in the Caspian Sea will be Iran’s first.
Crescent enters talks with Iraq provinces over gas cities

10 October 2008, 19:56 GMT
Kurdish facility could become model for developments country-wide.
Tehran bourse plans international finance centre

10 October 2008, 19:42 GMT
Iran Financial Centre will host state-run, private and international banks alongside the stock exchange.
Tehran seeks $20bn from Gulf investors

10 October 2008, 19:16 GMT
Cash injection is needed for liquefied natural gas plants as sanctions deter international oil majors.
Tehran should learn financial lessons from West

10 October 2008, 18:28 GMT
A plan for an international financial centre in Tehran is one way to prod the banking sector into action.
ONGC Videsh to hold talks over Iran oil field

8 October 2008, 16:15 GMT
India’s ONGC Videsh is to hold talks with Iran’s Petroleum Ministry to develop a new oil block in the north of the country.
Occidental signs Abu Dhabi exploration deal

8 October 2008, 16:10 GMT
The US’ Occidental Petroleum has agreed a deal with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) to invest $500m over the next four years to develop the Jarn Yaphour and Ramhan oil and gas fields in the emirate.
Tehran officials visit South Korea to attract contractors

7 October 2008, 16:29 GMT
National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) is to hold an investor roadshow in Seoul for South Korean contractors in November, as part of a plan to attract more engineering, procurement and construction firms to work on its energy projects.
Firms bid for Qatar north coast gas field

7 October 2008, 16:25 GMT
Qatar Petroleum (QP) has received bids from at least six international oil companies (IOCs) for the first new gas acreage in the country in several years, with an award expected by December.
Cairo will pay more for deep-sea gas

3 October 2008, 18:47 GMT
Oil majors strike fresh deals to explore the deep-water gas reserves of the Mediterranean Sea.
Bidding deadline for Al-Zour pipeline faces third delay

3 October 2008, 18:42 GMT
State upstream operator Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) is extending the bidding deadline for the contract to build a pipeline network serving the planned refinery at Al-Zour for the third time.
Baghdad to auction off West Qurna field in licensing round

3 October 2008, 18:38 GMT
Bid by Russia’s Lukoil to revive mid-1990s exploration deal fails.
Muscat nears multi-billion-dollar gas deal with Iran

3 October 2008, 17:56 GMT
Oman and Iran in final talks to secure 3 billion-cubic-feet-a-day deal following 2007 agreement.
Muscat has to secure gas supply

3 October 2008, 16:55 GMT
Any delays to the Iran deal will almost certainly put the brakes on the country’s economic growth.
Tatneft issues tender for Libyan seismic work

1 October 2008, 18:03 GMT
Russia’s Tatneft has issued an invitation to oil companies to bid for the processing and interpretation of seismic data from one of its fields in the Ghadames Basin in Libya.
Galsi gas pipeline scheme set to go ahead

1 October 2008, 17:36 GMT
The scheme to export Algerian gas to Italy is to move ahead, with further details emerging on the scope of work on the project.
Takreer awards Ruwais refinery deal to UOP

30 September 2008, 16:05 GMT
Abu Dhabi Oil Refining Company (Takreer) has awarded a technology and engineering services contract to UOP of the US for the expansion of Ruwais refinery.
Mohammed al-Mojil Group wins Jubail work

30 September 2008, 14:24 GMT
Saudi Arabian contractor Mohammed al-Mojil Group (MMG) has won additional sub-contract work for the $4bn National ChevronPhillips (NCP) olefins complex at Jubail.
Oman awards contract extension to CGG Veritas

30 September 2008, 11:54 GMT
Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) has awarded a contract extension to the French firm CGG Veritas for a high-density onshore project.
Production Services Network to bid for Ras Laffan gas deal

29 September 2008, 17:59 GMT
Aberdeen-based Production Services Network (PSN) has confirmed it expects to bid for lucrative integrated service contracts on the UK/Dutch Shell Group’s $16bn-plus Pearl gas-to-liquids (GTL) facility at Ras Laffan.
Libya makes oil discoveries

29 September 2008, 17:18 GMT
Germany’s RWE and Canada’s Verenex Energy have made separate oil discoveries in Libya as part of consortiums with the state-run National Oil Corporation (NOC).
Contract model will reap rewards in Iraq

26 September 2008, 19:35 GMT
Baghdad can offer incentives to attract enough firms to push ahead with the overhaul of its energy sector.
Ipic holds talks with oil majors over Fujairah

26 September 2008, 19:19 GMT
Abu Dhabi’s International Petroleum Investment Company (Ipic) is in talks with two international oil companies about developing the 200,000-barrel-a-day (b/d) oil refinery at Fujairah, but has shelved plans for an integrated petrochemicals unit.
Aramco seeks support for Ras Tanura

26 September 2008, 19:16 GMT
Second contractor to help US’ KBR hit deadlines on $26bn refinery upgrade and petrochemicals complex.
Jizan refinery faces two-year delay

26 September 2008, 19:06 GMT
Bidders lining up to build Saudi Arabia’s Jizan oil refinery have been issued with a fresh construction deadline of 2015 - a two-year delay to the original schedule.
Al-Zour dispute forces delay on $18bn Clean Fuels deals

26 September 2008, 17:55 GMT
Probe postpones upgrade at Mina al-Ahmadi and Mina Abdullah refineries.
Energy: Ipic enters Mubadala’s territory

25 September 2008, 23:06 GMT
Abu Dhabi government-owned investment firms will have to co-operate or compete in the upstream sector.
Oil prices rise amid uncertainty over US rescue package

25 September 2008, 16:42 GMT
Oil prices posted their biggest one-day gain in history this week as traders scrambled to cover short positions in the market while uncertainty remained over a rescue package for the troubled US finance industry.
Sinopec pays $2bn for Syrian heavy oil assets

25 September 2008, 15:25 GMT
Chinese oil firm Sinopec has paid $2bn to buy Tanganyika Oil Company, which holds the rights to develop more than 180 million barrels of proven heavy oil reserves in Syria.
Iran's oil minister replaces energy directors

24 September 2008, 17:21 GMT
Iran’s Oil Minister Gholamhossein Nozari has replaced the managing directors of three state-run oil and gas firms as part of ongoing changes in the country's energy industry.
Tunisia awards oil deal to Production Services Network

24 September 2008, 16:22 GMT
Tunisia has awarded a project management contract on the country’s second largest oil field to the UK’s Production Services Network (PSN), formerly a division of the US' KBR.
Dolphin Energy set to supply gas to Oman

23 September 2008, 16:28 GMT
Abu Dhabi-based Dolphin Energy says it will be ready to supply 200 million cubic-feet-a-day (cf/d) of gas to Oman by October - a four-month delay on the original timeframe.
Punj Lloyd wins Qatar gas pipeline work

23 September 2008, 15:38 GMT
India’s Punj Lloyd has won an $800m contract from Qatar Petroleum to build the gas pipeline between Ras Laffan and Mesaieed.
Shell signs Basra gas deal with Iraq

22 September 2008, 17:59 GMT
The UK/Dutch Shell Group has signed a heads-of-agreement deal with Iraq's South Gas Company for the development of associated gas in Basra, following cabinet approval from Iraq’s Council of Ministers on 7 September.
Burgan wins Kuwait drilling deal

22 September 2008, 16:43 GMT
The local Burgan Company for Drilling, Trading & Maintenance has won a KD16.6m ($62m) contract to supply two deep drilling rigs to state upstream operator Kuwait Oil Company (KOC).
Punj Lloyd wins Libyan oil rig contract

22 September 2008, 16:24 GMT
India’s Punj Lloyd has won a $42m contract from Libya’s Waha Oil Company consortium for the provision of two onshore rigs in the Sirte basin.
Noga shortlists oil majors for Awali deal

19 September 2008, 13:54 GMT
Occidental Petroleum, ExxonMobil and Maersk vie to more than double production at ailing oil field.
Majors line up for Egypt gas deals despite lack of pricing terms

19 September 2008, 13:39 GMT
At least a dozen international energy companies are to bid in Egypt’s latest gas exploration round, according to industry sources, despite the oil majors having yet to be informed of the pricing terms.
Baghdad offers service deal terms for exploration round

19 September 2008, 13:12 GMT
Oil Ministry seeks international interest in first oil licences since the US invasion.
Oil prices rebound as banks boost liquidity

18 September 2008, 14:55 GMT
Oil prices rebounded above the $100 mark on 18 September as an emergency $180bn injection of dollar liquidity by a number of central banks propped up ailing stock markets and oil prices in the wake of panic in the world credit markets.
GCC approves draft deal on monetary union

18 September 2008, 14:04 GMT
GCC finance ministers have approved a draft agreement on the general structure of a proposed monetary union but deferred a decision on the location of a central bank.
Syria signs oil refinery deal

17 September 2008, 17:41 GMT
Syria’s Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ministry has signed a contract for a 140,000-barrel-a-day (b/d) refinery with Iran, Venezuela and Malaysia in Furoqlos, near the northern city of Homs.
Tehran to spend $22bn to boost refining capacity

17 September 2008, 17:03 GMT
Iran is to invest $22bn as part of plans to construct seven refineries and add more than 1.5 million barrels-a-day (b/d) to its energy capacity.
Dubai buys stake in Saudi steel firm

16 September 2008, 16:25 GMT
Dubai Investments Company has bought a 10 per cent stake in Saudi Arabia’s South Steel Factory, which is developing a $2.6bn steel complex in the kingdom’s Jizan Economic City.
Qatar launches Ras Laffan plot tender

16 September 2008, 15:38 GMT
Qatar Petroleum (QP) has launched a tender for an engineering, procurement, installation and construction (EPIC) contract covering the development of a new plot at Ras Laffan Industrial City.
Iran criticises stalled UAE gas deal

15 September 2008, 15:06 GMT
Iran’s interior minister has criticised a proposed gas deal with the UAE’s Crescent Petroleum as failing to serve the country’s interest, adding that contract talks have been stalled for 12 years.
Tethys Oil suspends Oman well testing

15 September 2008, 13:12 GMT
Sweden’s Tethys Oil has suspended testing on its Jebel Aswad 2 well in Oman until a rig can be secured to seal off water from the well.
Mubadala considers listing divisions

15 September 2008, 11:27 GMT
Abu Dhabi investment vehicle could float offshoots on local bourses to drive expansion plans.
Doubts surface over Qatar Petroleum's Ras Laffan complex

14 September 2008, 10:56 GMT
Rising feedstock prices and a shortage of supplies are delaying the expansion of Qatar Petroleum’s giant petrochemicals complex and threatening the state’s plans to become the dominant force in the sector.
Oil prices near $100 after Opec production cut

11 September 2008, 13:42 GMT
Oil prices hovered just above the $100 a barrel mark on 11 September as the market digested the surprise production cut from Opec earlier in the week against a backdrop of a stronger dollar and weakening demand.
First Calgary buyout boosts Eni's Algerian gas assets

11 September 2008, 12:58 GMT
Italy’s Eni has bought Canada’s First Calgary Petroleums for $865m in a move that will strengthen the Rome-based firm’s oil and gas assets in Algeria.
Contractors prepare Oman gas pipeline bids

9 September 2008, 13:55 GMT
Contractors will submit technical bids on 13 September for the contract to build two new gas pipelines planned by Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) in the south of the sultanate following a deadline extension.
Firms bid for Oman Gas Company compressor work

9 September 2008, 13:40 GMT
Seven local and international contractors have submitted bids for an estimated $50m engineering, procurement and construction contract to build a gas compressor station at the Nimr field in the south of Oman.
Velosi wins Aramco service contract

8 September 2008, 14:39 GMT
UK-listed oil consultant Velosi has won a five-year general inspection services contract from Saudi Aramco and a two-year deal from Al-Khafji Joint Operations in the Divided Zone.
Sasol claims Qatar gas project on schedule despite delays

8 September 2008, 14:20 GMT
South Africa's Sasol says the “majority of teething problems” have been resolved at its Oryx gas-to-liquids (GTL) venture in Qatar, although production remains at just two-thirds of its 34,000-barrel-a-day (b/d) capacity.
Aramco delays Khursaniyah output rise

5 September 2008, 17:38 GMT
Problems at associated gas plant stall plans for field to start full production of 500,000 barrels a day.
Doha suspends Ras Laffan petrochemicals expansion

5 September 2008, 17:33 GMT
Plans for common cooling system shelved because of a lack of interest in plots.
Riyadh should welcome oil production delays

5 September 2008, 14:42 GMT
Riyadh may take heart from the fact its new production is not all coming on line while prices are below $110. Any further price drop and Saudi Arabia may regret chasing capacity.
Total signs Syrian energy deals

4 September 2008, 17:07 GMT
France’s Total has signed a series of oil and gas agreements in Syria, including plans for a new strategic partnership with two state-run energy companies, after broader economic talks between the two countries this week.
Oil price drops below $110 as storm recedes

4 September 2008, 16:51 GMT
The oil price remained below $110 a barrel on 4 September, after tropical storm Gustav in the Gulf of Mexico turned out to be less destructive than initially expected.
Dubai suspends oil production at Rashid after helicopter crash

4 September 2008, 16:16 GMT
Oil production from Dubai’s Rashid field has been suspended after a helicopter crashed into an oil rig on 3 September, about 70 kilometres from the shore, killing all seven people on board.
Total plans Syrian exploration talks

3 September 2008, 18:49 GMT
French oil major Total is looking to sign fresh exploration deals in Syria this week for the Deir El Zour permit.
Details emerge on Iraq oil deal with China

3 September 2008, 18:22 GMT
Fresh details have emerged of the service deal signed with China for the development of the Al-Ahdab oil field, giving an indication to other oil majors about the type of contracts on offer in the country in the continued absence of an oil law.
Iraq approves $3bn oil field deal with China

2 September 2008, 16:26 GMT
Iraq's cabinet has approved a renegotiated agreement with China for the development of the Al-Ahdab oil field in the province of Wasit - the first field contract to be approved by Baghdad since the end of the war.
Iran and Oman hold talks over Kish gas field

2 September 2008, 15:33 GMT
Iran’s oil minister has held further talks with his Omani counterpart over the development of Iran's Kish gas field.
Iran prepares masterplan for Lavan gas field

1 September 2008, 16:35 GMT
Iran Offshore Oil Company (IOOC) expects to issue a masterplan for its Lavan gas field by October, according to a contractor close to the project, with an award for its development to be made by March 2009 to an international oil company.
Mauritania names new cabinet

1 September 2008, 16:15 GMT
Mauritania’s military rulers have named a new 22-minister cabinet, almost a month after seizing power.
Cairo improves pricing for energy firms

29 August 2008, 17:18 GMT
Mediterranean gas exploration programme aims to attract fresh international investment.
Big Oil has to be kept on Cairo's side

29 August 2008, 15:08 GMT
Oil majors will need reassurance from Cairo over its energy tax. By agreeing a higher price for natural gas, Cairo is trying to make amends.
Tehran targets foreign investment

29 August 2008, 11:54 GMT
Production-sharing agreements offer a chance for Iran to achieve its aim of attracting oil majors.
StatoilHydro makes Algerian gas discovery

28 August 2008, 17:09 GMT
Norway’s StatoilHydro has made its second gas discovery in a month in the Hassi Mouina area in the south of Algeria.
Oil prices steady as Gulf of Mexico storms near

28 August 2008, 16:22 GMT
Oil prices remained near $120 a barrel on 28 August, with concerns over the potential impact of Tropical Storm Gustav in the Gulf of Mexico keeping prices up.
Petropars invites invites bids for South Pars 12 rig

27 August 2008, 18:07 GMT
Oil development firm Petropars, a subsidiary of National Iranian Oil Company, has invited bids for an offshore drilling rig as part of ongoing exploration work on phase 12 of the South Pars gas field.
Iraq signs $3bn oil service deal with China

27 August 2008, 17:37 GMT
Iraq has signed a renegotiated agreement with China for the development of the Al-Ahdab oil field in the province of Wasit - the first field contract to be approved by Baghdad in the post-war era.
Development costs double on South Pars project

26 August 2008, 17:00 GMT
Oil development firm Petropars, a subsidiary of National Iranian Oil Company, has conceded that costs have doubled to $6bn on phases 6-8 of the giant South Pars gas field.
Oil majors line up for Jordanian gas field

26 August 2008, 15:59 GMT
At least four oil companies have submitted bids to Jordan's Energy & Mineral Resources Ministry for exploration of the Risha tight gas field in the northeast, with a contract due to be awarded by November.
Tehran considers fresh oil deal terms

22 August 2008, 18:01 GMT
National Iranian Oil Company reviews contract proposals for the exploration of the Caspian Sea.
Firms to line up for Khuff gas acreage

22 August 2008, 17:51 GMT
Qatar Petroleum (QP) is inviting 40 companies to bid for the state’s first gas acreage in years, as part of a drive to develop potential deep water reserves in the offshore Khuff reservoir.
Dome and Vitol seek oil major to replace Anadarko

22 August 2008, 15:53 GMT
Joint venture partners are hoping to rekindle two-year service agreement.
Revising contracts is the first step in Iraq

22 August 2008, 15:39 GMT
Tehran will turn a corner if it adopts a contract model with massive appeal for oil-hungry energy majors.
Oil price passes $120-a-barrel due to US-Russia tension

21 August 2008, 17:45 GMT
Oil prices shot up by more than $6 on 21 August as the market focused on renewed geo-political tensions between the US and Russia, stoking fears of a disruption to Moscow’s energy shipments.
Qatar Petroleum awards seismic deal on Dukhan oil field

21 August 2008, 16:12 GMT
Qatar Petroleum (QP) has awarded a $140m deal to French firm CGS Veritas for a 3D-seismic survey of its ageing Dukhan oil and gas field.
Shell confirms Empty Quarter hydrocarbons find

20 August 2008, 17:17 GMT
South Rub Al Khali (Srak), a 50:50 joint venture between the UK/Dutch Shell Group and Saudi Aramco, has confirmed the discovery of a hydrocarbons system in Saudi Arabia’s Empty Quarter.
Iran to double crude storage capacity

20 August 2008, 16:33 GMT
Iran is to start construction on four 1-million barrel oil storage tanks in Kharg Island next month as part of a long-term strategy to double the country’s crude reserves.
Bahrain awards $314m lube oil contract to Samsung

19 August 2008, 16:24 GMT
A joint venture of Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) and Finland's Neste Oil is awarding a $314m deal to build a lube base oil refinery at Sitra to South Korea’s Samsung Engineering.
Saudi Aramco delays Karan gas bids

19 August 2008, 15:37 GMT
Saudi Aramco has delayed the deadline for technical and commercial bids for a platforms and pipelines package at its Karan gas field.
Qatar Petroleum buys controlling stake in vinyl firm

18 August 2008, 15:50 GMT
Qatar Petroleum (QP) has bought a further 29.7 per cent stake in Qatar Vinyl Company (QVC) for $136m from Norway’s Norsk Hydro, giving it a majority shareholding in one of the state's major downstream petrochemicals projects.
Norwegian oil firm cuts output following Kurdistan oil review

18 August 2008, 15:23 GMT
Norway’s DNO does not expect to produce any oil from its Tawke field in northern Iraq in August, after the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) halted local output as part of a review of licensing and procedures.
Aramco and Sabic must work together

15 August 2008, 17:32 GMT
After years of operating side by side in Saudi Arabia, the kingdom’s oil and petrochemicals giants have finally sown the seeds for greater co-operation.
Gasco raises doubts over foreign participation in Hail gas field

15 August 2008, 16:52 GMT
Abu Dhabi Gas Industries Company (Gasco) is undertaking an in-house study on the potential of the offshore Hail sour gas field, raising doubts over whether international contractors will participate in its early development.
Citadel struggles to raise $2bn for refinery

15 August 2008, 16:48 GMT
Project faces delays as credit crunch threatens largest ever finance package in North Africa.
Sabic and Aramco strengthen ties

15 August 2008, 11:37 GMT
Investments in China are leading to far greater collaboration between the kingdom's largest state-owned firms.
Oil prices rebound as US inventories drop

14 August 2008, 17:38 GMT
Oil prices rebounded strongly for a second day on 13 August, after US data released showed an unexpectedly large drop in crude oil and product stocks.
Aramco awards $700m Manifa oil and gas deals

14 August 2008, 16:45 GMT
Saudi Aramco is awarding a raft of contracts on its Manifa heavy oil field development, which forms a key plank of the kingdom’s efforts to ramp up crude production over the next three years.
McDermott clinches Barzan offshore deal

14 August 2008, 15:42 GMT
Jebel-Ali based J Ray McDermott has won the contract to provide front-end engineering and design (FEED) services for the offshore component of Qatar Petroleum’s giant Barzan gas field development.
QATAR TENDER: Triethylene/ monoethylene supply

12 August 2008, 17:31 GMT
Provision of stocking and supply of triethylene and monoethylene glycol on a call-off basis. Closing date: 31 August 2008
Iran reveals oil and gas field discoveries

12 August 2008, 17:03 GMT
National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) has discovered four new oil fields holding a total of around 3.7 billion barrels of oil and 1.5 million cubic metres of gas.
Iran invites Esfandiar oil field bids

12 August 2008, 16:15 GMT
Iranian Offshore Oil Company (IOOC) has invited bids for a full study of the Forouzan oil field, as part of plans to develop it and the nearby Esfandiar oil field.
Petrofac starts Tunisian gas production

11 August 2008, 15:34 GMT
The UK’s Petrofac has started commercial production of gas and condensate from the Chergui field in Tunisia as part of a $100m joint venture with state oil company, Entreprise Tunisienne d’Activites Petrolieres (Etap).
Iraq to renegotiate Al-Ahdab oil field deal with China

11 August 2008, 14:16 GMT
Iraq’s oil minister is to renegotiate a deal with China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) by the end of August for the development of the Al-Ahdab oil field in the province of Wasit.
Baghdad to miss oil production target

8 August 2008, 17:18 GMT
Cutting deals with oil majors from two years to one will hit plans to raise output by 500,000 barrels a day.
Aramco invites bids for $3bn worth of contracts at Yanbu

8 August 2008, 17:12 GMT
Saudi Aramco is inviting selected firms to bid for a raft of packages worth $3bn at the 400,000-barrel-a-day Yanbu export refinery, with technical and commercial bids due within days of the main construction deals.
Oil prices rebound past $120 after Turkish pipeline explodes

7 August 2008, 16:51 GMT
Oil prices began to rebound following a four week slide after Turkey said its 1 million barrel-a-day (b/d) Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline carrying crude to the Mediterranean from Azerbaijan would remain shut for at least two weeks following an explosion.
Iran prepares Laleh oil block award

7 August 2008, 16:19 GMT
National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) is expected to award the Laleh oil block to Iranian Offshore Engineering & Construction and Indonesia’s state-run Pertamina in mid-August, according to industry analysts, as part of Tehran's development of 17 separate oil and gas blocks.
Iraq issues Basra refinery pipe tender

6 August 2008, 17:09 GMT
Iraq’s State Company for Oil Projects (Scop) is moving ahead with the upgrade of its 150,000 barrel-a-day (b/d) Basra refinery after inviting bids for the supply of pipes and fittings.
Iraq invites bids for Akkas gas field

6 August 2008, 16:22 GMT
Iraq’s state-run North Oil Company has invited companies to bid for new drilling work at its largest gas field Akkas, and on the East Baghdad oil field as part of plans to redevelop the energy sector.
Iran prepares oil and gas projects for energy majors

5 August 2008, 16:06 GMT
National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) is to offer more than 15 major oil and gas projects to local and international investors in the next year.
Iraq reissues major oil field drilling tender

5 August 2008, 15:41 GMT
Iraq's state-run Oil Exploration Company has reissued tenders for the drilling of deep wells at two of the country's largest oil fields and extended the deadline for bids.
Petrofac to build Egyptian gas train

4 August 2008, 15:49 GMT
Egypt's Khalda Petroleum Company has awarded the UK’s Petrofac a design, engineering and procurement contract to build a fifth gas processing train at its natural gas plant at Salam in the Western desert.
StatoilHydro suspends involvement in Iran energy projects

4 August 2008, 15:29 GMT
Norway’s national oil company, StatoilHydro, has joined Russian oil major Lukoil in suspending its work on the Anaran oil field in Iran but has not ruled out making future investments in the country.
Energy: Riyadh pays price for going private

31 July 2008, 18:59 GMT
Amid speculation that there is little interest in the Jizan refinery, Riyadh is offering sweeteners to oil majors.
Aramco offers flexibility on refinery upgrade deals

31 July 2008, 18:12 GMT
State oil giant Saudi Aramco is departing from its usual contracting policy to offer engineering firms flexible terms on the multi-billion-dollar scheme to cut the sulphur content of gasoline produced at four refineries.
Riyadh offers incentives for oil majors to support Jizan

31 July 2008, 17:51 GMT
Kingdom to develop first refinery without the help of Saudi Aramco.
Oil prices drop below $125 on US demand fears

31 July 2008, 16:36 GMT
Oil prices ended July by dropping by more than $2 a barrel as new economic data cast a further shadow over crude demand in the key US market.
Shell bullish on Iraq oil and gas deals

31 July 2008, 15:42 GMT
The UK/Dutch Shell Group hopes to sign short-term technical service agreements in Iraq shortly, in addition to a gas deal, but has failed to give a definitive timeline for either.
QP awards environmental monitoring contract to SGS Qatar

30 July 2008, 17:00 GMT
Qatar Petroleum (QP) is to create a new state-wide environmental inspection programme after awarding a monitoring contract to SGS Qatar, a testing and inspection company, for work on its sites and facilities.
Sasol reports production delays at Qatar gas venture

30 July 2008, 15:34 GMT
South Africa’s Sasol says production at its Oryx gas-to-liquids (GTL) venture in Qatar has averaged under two-thirds of its 34,000-barrel-a-day (b/d) capacity for the first six months of 2008, due to continued technical hitches.
Iran nominates new ministers to parliament

29 July 2008, 16:57 GMT
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has nominated three new ministers for approval by the Majlis (parliament), following the end of a caretaker period for those holding the interim posts.
Dana Gas and Crescent Petroleum set to supply Kurdistan gas

29 July 2008, 16:15 GMT
UAE-based Dana Gas and Crescent Petroleum expect to begin supplying 150 million cubic feet a day (cf/d) of gas from the Khor Mor field in northern Iraq in August, as part of a wider deal for a major gas-fed industrial complex in the Kurdish region.
Petrovietnam to begin Iranian oil exploration work

28 July 2008, 13:49 GMT
Vietnam's state-run Petrovietnam Exploration Production Corporation is to start work on the exploration and development of the Danan oil block in Iran on 1 August, as part of a four-year deal agreed with National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC).
Qatar awards Dukhan gas deal to France’s Technip

28 July 2008, 13:07 GMT
Qatar Petroleum (QP) has awarded a $6.7m design contract to France’s Technip for a new gas sweetening unit at Dukhan, to improve its domestic fuel gas facilities.
Riyadh is losing influence on oil

25 July 2008, 15:12 GMT
The Saudi plan to increase output was shrugged off by market traders. There is an air of resignation in Riyadh over its loss of influence.
Riyadh moves to cool oil prices

25 July 2008, 12:15 GMT
Saudi Aramco’s pledge to increase output is aimed at regaining its influence over the markets.
Gas Natural agrees import deal with Qatar

24 July 2008, 17:20 GMT
Spain’s Gas Natural has agreed a framework agreement with Qatargas to import up to 5 billion cubic metres of liquefied natural gas (LNG) over the medium to long term.
Oil prices hover near seven-week low

24 July 2008, 16:47 GMT
Oil prices rebounded slightly from a seven-week low on 23 July but remained well under $130 a barrel as the demand outlook continued to weaken in the key US market.
Aramco presses on with output boost

11 July 2008, 17:20 GMT
Saudi Aramco is pushing ahead with ambitious investment and production plans despite the threat of inflation and a tight labour market.
Political row to delay $3bn service deals

11 July 2008, 17:04 GMT
Differences between Iraq's oil and finance ministries over payment terms for international oil companies (IOCs) threaten to further delay negotiations for technical service agreements worth $3bn.
Oil prices remain high on Iran tension

10 July 2008, 13:53 GMT
Oil prices eased back from record highs but remained above $135 on continuing geopolitical tension in the Middle East after Iran test-fired ballistic missiles following recent Israeli military manoeuvres in the Mediterranean.
Total denies Iran pull-out

10 July 2008, 12:52 GMT
French oil major Total has denied claims it has pulled out of energy investments in Iran and says it is still considering developing a gas project in the South Pars gas field.
Iran prepares drilling tender for South Gashu gas field

9 July 2008, 16:28 GMT
Central Iranian Oil Fields Company (CIOFC) is expected to issue a drilling tender by the end of July for development of its South Gashu gas field, near Bandar Abbas.
Iran invites bids for Saleh gas field

9 July 2008, 16:00 GMT
Iranian Offshore Oil Company (IOOC) has invited companies to bid for the Saleh gas field in the Strait of Hormuz, following prequalification earlier this year.
Aramco awards Manifa oil deal to Snamprogetti

8 July 2008, 14:01 GMT
Saudi Aramco has formally awarded an estimated $1.8bn deal to Italy’s Snamprogetti on its 900,000-barrel-a-day (b/d) Manifa oil field development.
Aramco awards Manifa oil deal to Snamprogetti

8 July 2008, 13:52 GMT
Saudi Aramco has formally awarded an estimated $1.8bn deal to Italy’s Snamprogetti on its 900,000-barrel-a-day (b/d) Manifa oil field development.
Qatar Petroleum invites firms to tour Al-Shaheen refinery site

8 July 2008, 13:21 GMT
Selected contractors have been invited to tour the site of Qatar Petroleum's (QP) proposed $5bn Al-Shaheen grassroots refinery, in preparation for the submission of technical bids for the main construction package later this year.
Iran doubles reserves estimate at Jofeir oil field

7 July 2008, 13:29 GMT
National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) has more than doubled an earlier reserves estimate at its Jofeir oilfield, which lies near the Iraqi border, following the drilling of a new oil well.
Iranian oil company creates new position for Fard

7 July 2008, 13:05 GMT
National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) has promoted its long-serving international affairs director to a newly created position as part of a revamp of its senior management.
NOC Survey 2008: Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco)

4 July 2008, 14:34 GMT
Securing energy is the priority for Bahrain as it seeks to expand its downstream industries.
NOC Survey 2008: Qatar Petroleum

4 July 2008, 14:08 GMT
Qatar’s state oil firm is making the most of the advantage provided by its giant North field.
NOC Survey 2008: Saudi Aramco

4 July 2008, 12:40 GMT
Already the world’s biggest producer, Aramco is under pressure to raise output.
Aramco faces losing skilled workers after salary review

27 June 2008, 18:09 GMT
Contractors say key staff are being tempted away by rivals offering better deals.
Aramco staggers Khursaniyah work to meet August deadline

27 June 2008, 17:58 GMT
First 250,000-b/d train is due for completion, with second up to six weeks later.
Aramco awards Manifa pipeline deal to Valentine Maritime

27 June 2008, 17:07 GMT
Saudi Aramco has awarded a contract worth up to $500m for pipeline and power cable equipment to the UAE’s Valentine Maritime as part of a series of major contracts on its 900,000-barrel-a-day (b/d) Manifa oil field development.
Iran can seize gas initiative

27 June 2008, 16:05 GMT
Tehran has a lucrative window of opportunity to exploit its resources. Modernisation of approach will encourage oil majors and investment.
Refining the Saudi oil sector

27 June 2008, 12:47 GMT
Building refinery capacity will help Riyadh retain control over pricing as its major oil fields age and it becomes increasingly reliant on heavier crude grades.
Iraq to delay signing technical service deals

26 June 2008, 18:04 GMT
Iraq is expected to delay signing technical service contracts with foreign oil majors until early July in the latest stage of its efforts to increase oil production at existing fields by a combined 500,000 barrels-a-day (b/d).
Oil nears record on fear of Libya production cut

26 June 2008, 17:34 GMT
Oil rose by $3 on 26 June to near record levels, after Opec’s president predicted crude could hit $170 in the next few months and Libya said it may cut its production.
Orascom wins Skikda gas construction work

25 June 2008, 17:54 GMT
The US’ KBR has awarded a sub-contract to Egypt’s Orascom Construction Industries on Sonatrach’s new 4.5 million-tonne-a-year liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant at Skikda in the north-east of Algeria.
RasGas awards gas turbine service deal

25 June 2008, 17:39 GMT
US-based GE Oil & Gas has signed a multi-million-dollar contract with Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company (RasGas) to service trains 6 and 7 of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) development and phase 2 of its Al-Khaleej gas development.
Gazprom tenders Libyan gas exploration work

24 June 2008, 16:32 GMT
Russian gas producer Gazprom has invited contractors to bid for the provision of seismic services as it looks to develop three gas exploration blocks in the southern part of the Ghadames Basin.
Snamprogetti signs Kuwait gas station deal

24 June 2008, 15:42 GMT
Italy's Snamprogetti has signed a KD179m ($676m) contract to build gas booster station 160 for Kuwait Oil Company (KOC), after the Central Tenders Committee approved its offer in May.
Libya signs oil deals with Occidental and OMV

23 June 2008, 14:32 GMT
Libya’s state-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC) has signed five exploration and production-sharing agreements with the US’ Occidental Petroleum and Austria’s OMV, covering exploration, carbon dioxide storage and enhanced oil recovery projects.
Iran awards South Pars drilling deal to Dana

23 June 2008, 14:10 GMT
State-run Pars Oil and Gas Company (POGC) has awarded a contract to Iran’s Dana Drilling Company for the drilling of 24 wells on phase 13 of the South Pars gas field.
Segas’ plans for Damietta stall after Cairo halts gas exports

20 June 2008, 17:58 GMT
Spanish Egyptian Gas Company’s (Segas) plan for a second liquefied natural gas (LNG) train at Damietta in the Nile Delta may be delayed until 2010 following the government’s plan to put gas export deals on hold.
Aramco faces fresh delays as contractor capacity dries up

20 June 2008, 17:37 GMT
Slippages at high-profile oil projects threaten to derail production increase plan.
Aramco shortlists firms for Jubail work

20 June 2008, 17:07 GMT
Four deals with combined value of $3bn follow $6bn worth of contracts announced in early June.
Gas export freeze in Egypt could stall investment

20 June 2008, 16:11 GMT
For Egypt alone, natural gas exports have helped entice more than $14bn worth of exploration investment.
Q&A: Mohammed al-Mulla, General Manager, Qatar Petrochemicals Company

20 June 2008, 11:15 GMT
Increased costs require careful planning as business grows in India
Qatar Petrochemicals Company

20 June 2008, 11:15 GMT
The Qatar Petroleum subsidiary is at the heart of the state’s bid to diversify its petrochemicals sector.
Qatar Petrochemicals Company: MEED Assessment

20 June 2008, 11:13 GMT
Qapco to take advantage of surge in demand with buoyant product prices and low feedstock costs
Aramco set to award Karan pipeline deal

19 June 2008, 17:02 GMT
Saudi Aramco expects to award a deal for a $200m, 300-kilometre subsea pipeline package for its offshore Karan gas field by the end of June with at least six companies in line for the contract.
Oil market awaits Saudi pricing summit as prices hold

19 June 2008, 16:05 GMT
Oil prices hovered around the $133 mark on 19 June, nearly $7 shy of the all-time record set earlier in the week, after China said it would raise gasoline and diesel prices.
Libya tenders Sirte basin seismic work

18 June 2008, 18:07 GMT
Sirte Oil Company (SOC), a subsidiary of Libya’s state-run National Oil Corporation (NOC), has invited bids from contractors to carry out a 3D seismic survey for a new 800 square kilometre area of acreage in the Sirte Basin.
Aramco to award contract for Manifa pipeline equipment

18 June 2008, 17:39 GMT
Saudi Aramco is expected to award a contract for pipeline and power cable equipment worth about $110m early next week as part of its 900,000-barrel-a-day (b/d) offshore Manifa field development.
Turkish firm invites contractors to prequalify for Libya drilling work

17 June 2008, 16:47 GMT
Turkish Petroleum Overseas Company (TPOC) has invited contractors to prequalify for drilling services deals in Libya’s Sirte and Murzuq regions as part of the second phase of its exploration programme.
BP lines up firms for Libya exploration work

17 June 2008, 16:15 GMT
UK oil major BP, which signed a $2bn exploration deal with Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) in 23007, is to launch a search for firms to provide well services and construct a base camp in the country.
Iraq issues major field drilling tenders

16 June 2008, 17:12 GMT
Iraq’s state-run Oil Exploration Company has issued tenders for the drilling of deep wells at two of the country’s largest oil fields.
Iran creates alternative to stalled UAE gas deal

16 June 2008, 16:35 GMT
Iran’s state-run Oil Engineering and Development Company (OEDC) is to tender the construction of a new pipeline linking the Salman gas field with the Assaluyeh region, as an alternative to a stalled deal with the UAE’s Crescent Petroleum.
Doha reviews Mesaieed gas facilities

13 June 2008, 18:06 GMT
Qatar Petroleum (QP) is reviewing the future of its two oldest natural gas liquids (NGL) plants at Mesaieed, following the decline in oil production at its onshore field at Dukhan and two offshore fields, Bul Hanine and Maydan Mahzam.
Shell secures gas deal with Baghdad

13 June 2008, 17:51 GMT
UK firm set to form joint venture with South Gas Company to develop southern region.
Baghdad oil revival to calm fuel prices

13 June 2008, 10:51 GMT
International economist says rejuvenating Iraq's oil sector offers the best hope of easing supply concerns.
Iran outlines $200bn investment hopes

12 June 2008, 17:16 GMT
National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) is planning to attract over $200bn of domestic and foreign investment in its oil and gas projects over the next 20 years.
Oil backs off record as Saudi calls for pricing summit

12 June 2008, 16:42 GMT
Oil prices hovered around the $133 mark on 12 June, nearly $7 shy of the previous week’s all-time record, as concerns lingered over a lack of crude supplies to the market.
Iran signs three-year Kish drilling deal

11 June 2008, 17:35 GMT
The state-run National Iranian Drilling Company (NIDC) has been awarded a three-year deal to drill 13 wells in the massive Kish gas field, following an initial award to Iranian Petroleum Engineering and Development Company in March.
Aramco prepares Manifa pipeline award

11 June 2008, 16:54 GMT
Saudi Aramco is expected to award a deal for pipeline and power cable equipment by the end of June as part of its 900,000-barrel-a-day (b/d) offshore Manifa field development.
Qatar issues Dukhan engineering tender

10 June 2008, 13:52 GMT
Qatar Petroleum (QP) has issued a procurement and engineering tender covering its onshore Dukhan field, as part of an upgrade of existing facilities.
Iraq prepares technical service deals with oil majors

10 June 2008, 13:15 GMT
Iraq is to reveal further details of its technical service contracts with foreign oil majors on 30 June, in the latest stage of its efforts to increase oil production at existing fields by 100,000-barrels-a-day (b/d).
Petronas concerned over Iran gas deal

9 June 2008, 16:51 GMT
Malaysian energy company Petronas has revealed it may delay or possibly cancel its gas project in Iran because of rampant inflation.
Qatar and Shell to invest $70m researching carbon storage projects

9 June 2008, 16:26 GMT
Qatar Petroleum is to jointly invest up to $70m with the UK/Dutch Shell Group in researching carbon dioxide storage projects in the Middle East, including the development of potential sites in the gas-rich state.
Gas producers delay meeting over cartel

6 June 2008, 17:10 GMT
Iran, Qatar and Russia have delayed a meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, following a failure to agree on a charter and a set of common goals for a proposed new gas cartel.
Aramco set to award $3bn worth of Manifa oil field deals

6 June 2008, 16:57 GMT
Saudi Aramco is poised to formally award $3bn worth of deals on its 900,000-barrel-a-day (b/d) Manifa oil field development as part of its bid to increase production capacity to 12.5 million b/d by next year.
Aramco shortlists bidders for $6bn worth of Jubail deals

6 June 2008, 16:52 GMT
State oil giant to issue invitations to 12 firms ahead of meetings in Rome.
Gas cartel faces huge challenges

6 June 2008, 15:31 GMT
Without clear aims and intentions, gas producers’ hopes of creating a credible cartel will come to nothing.
Oil prices fall from record highs

5 June 2008, 16:21 GMT
Oil prices fell back from record highs on 5 June to just over $123 a barrel, with weekly supply figures in the US showing refiners had increased oil products stocks.
Egyptian firm sells stake in Suez oil

5 June 2008, 15:54 GMT
Egypt Kuwait Holding has provisionally agreed to sell a 20 per cent stake in the North Shadwan oil concession in the Gulf of Suez to Autralian firm Beach Petroleum.
Qatar issues offshore oil construction tender

4 June 2008, 17:58 GMT
Qatar Petroleum (QP) has issued a construction services tender covering its offshore fields as part of a three-year deal.
Aramco to open China refinery units in 2008

4 June 2008, 17:24 GMT
Saudi Aramco is to bring the first units of the upgraded Fujian refinery in China online earlier than expected, as part of its effort to build refineries capable of handling heavier grades of crude oil.
Jizan refinery faces fresh delay

3 June 2008, 13:04 GMT
Saudi Arabia has missed the deadline to send a request for proposals to oil majors on its Jizan refinery, citing procedural delays in receiving approval from the Supreme Petroleum Council (SPC).
Qatar invites bids for Al-Shaheen refinery

3 June 2008, 12:34 GMT
Qatar Petroleum (QP) has invited contractors to bid for the main construction package on its $5bn Al-Shaheen refinery.
Occidental receives approval for Qatar oil field

2 June 2008, 17:12 GMT
The US’ Occidental Petroleum has received approval from Qatar Petroleum (QP) for the third-phase development of the Idd al-Shargi north dome, which is aimed at increasing production to about 145,000 barrels a day (b/d).
Qatar inflation rises after food hikes

2 June 2008, 16:07 GMT
Qatar’s inflation rate increased to 14.75 per cent for the three months to the end of March due to a continued surge in rents and food prices.
GTL conversion: The Pearl Project

1 June 2008, 10:08 GMT
Gas-to-liquids (GTL) conversion is an umbrella term for a group of technologies that can be used to create liquid synthetic fuels from a variety of feedstocks.
Doha set for power talks with France

30 May 2008, 18:28 GMT
Qatar Petroleum International (QPI), Doha’s state-run global energy investment arm, is to hold talks with France’s EDF and Gaz de France (GdF) in the first week of June, which will include discussions over joint investments in Europe’s power sector.
Government adviser urges Doha to drop peg to dollar

30 May 2008, 17:19 GMT
Qatar’s senior economic adviser has made a fresh call for the state to depeg its currency from the flagging US dollar and insists the planned GCC-wide monetary union should also have the strength to sever ties with the greenback.
Doha too quiet on North field

30 May 2008, 15:39 GMT
A three-year pause for breath is turning into an eight-year hiatus.An important piece of information is missing from the debate over the state’s future economic development.
Dolphin Pipeline: An historic moment for Doha

30 May 2008, 14:02 GMT
The inauguration of the 360-kilometre Dolphin sub-sea gas pipeline is a key event in Qatar’s development and highlights an opportunity neighbouring Gulf states will regret passing up.
Shell's Qatar country chairman Andrew Brown on developing a gas giant

30 May 2008, 13:53 GMT
Andrew Brown, managing director of the Pearl GTL project, the world’s largest gas-to-liquids plant, talks to MEED about the challenges he faces.
Energy: Majors line up for fresh acreage

30 May 2008, 12:36 GMT
International oil companies are keen to win the rights to four new gas blocks as the moratorium on exploration of the giant North field looks set to be extended beyond 2010.
Oil prices stay above $130 as US inventories drop

29 May 2008, 16:56 GMT
Oil prices fell from historic highs but stayed above the $130 mark as official US data released on 29 May showed a drop of 8.8 million barrels in its crude oil stocks, the largest weekly fall in almost four years.
Saipem wins Egyptian offshore work

29 May 2008, 16:18 GMT
The Burullus Gas Company has awarded Italian oil field services company Saipem a contract for the development of Egypt’s Sequoia field, located offshore from the Nile River Delta.
Aramco crude oil production decreases in 2007

28 May 2008, 17:49 GMT
Saudi Aramco’s crude oil production fell to 8.5 million barrels-a-day (b/d) in 2007 from 8.8 million b/d in 2006 while raw gas to the company’s own plants fell to 7.9 billion cubic feet a day (cf/d) in 2007 from 8.2 billion cf/d for the previous year.
Kuwait appoints oil minister

28 May 2008, 17:01 GMT
Kuwait has promoted Mohammad al-Olaim from acting Oil Minister to the permanent position following the recent parliamentary elections.
Iran cuts oil exports during refinery maintenance

27 May 2008, 17:14 GMT
Iran has blamed a seasonal fall in demand during the refinery maintenance period for its decision to cut oil exports by 200,000-barrels-a-day in the last month.
Shell confirms Empty Quarter drilling extension

27 May 2008, 16:40 GMT
The South Rub al-Khali (Srak) exploration company has confirmed it has been given a crucial 18-month extension from the Petroleum & Mineral Resources Ministry, allowing it to complete its seven-well drilling programme in the Empty Quarter.
Baghdad to limit power of revived Inoc

23 May 2008, 17:32 GMT
New oil law will restore Iraq National Oil Company but ministers vow it will be less bureaucratic.
Bahrain central bank pledges to beat inflation

23 May 2008, 17:20 GMT
Bahrain’s central bank governor has vowed to tackle the domestic issues that have contributed to the country’s inflation rate hitting a new record of 5.2 per cent in March.
Oil firms in Egypt plan to cut costs by sharing equipment

23 May 2008, 16:56 GMT
Leading international companies operating in Egypt’s oil and gas sector have submitted a request to the government to pool their resources in an effort to fight spiralling inflation.
Hard decisions in Qatar are paying off

23 May 2008, 15:56 GMT
With record oil and gas prices, Doha could easily sit back and reap the benefits of its previous reforms. Qatar’s overseas investment strategy will act as a fall-back once its oil and gas reserves start running out.
Yousef Hussein Kamal on tackling inflation in Qatar

23 May 2008, 15:26 GMT
The long-standing Qatari minister discusses his plans to develop new industries and tackle rising inflation.
Oil majors threaten to cut investment in Eqypt's gas sector

23 May 2008, 13:51 GMT
Firms request talks with government over plans to abolish free zone privileges for high energy users.
Oil hits $135 as energy supply fears increase

22 May 2008, 17:28 GMT
Crude prices surged to a new high above $135 on 22 May, powered by fears that energy supplies will fail to meet demand.
US firm wins Manifa oil deal

22 May 2008, 16:59 GMT
Houston-based Natco has won a deal to provide equipment and technology to contractor Foster Wheeler for work on Saudi Aramco’s 900,000-barrel-a-day (b/d) Manifa oil field.
Mubadala acquisition spurs energy appointment

21 May 2008, 17:50 GMT
Abu Dhabi government-owned Mubadala Development Company has appointed the head of Aabar Energy to its oil and gas division, after completing the purchase of the company’s only asset earlier this month.
Iraqi oil minister blames traders for high crude prices

19 May 2008, 14:40 GMT
Iraq's Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani has dismissed suggestions that more oil needs to be pumped to reduce record crude prices, blaming the situation on speculative trading from hedge funds.
Tehran’s plan to list energy holding company stalls

19 May 2008, 14:37 GMT
An ambitious plan to list shares in a $90bn Iranian energy holding company on several international bourses has been delayed while the Iranian Privatisation Organisation (IPO) seeks clarification from the government on the structure of any deals.
Doha to cut spending in bid to reduce soaring inflation

16 May 2008, 15:04 GMT
Government budgets to be reviewed as inflation reaches record high.
Size of Pearl workforce poses risks

16 May 2008, 14:35 GMT
The UK/Dutch Shell Group has conceded that the sheer number of workers being hired to work on its estimated $18bn Pearl gas-to-liquids plant at Ras Laffan may make it difficult for contractors to hit productivity targets.
Gulf states consider 10 per cent tax rate

16 May 2008, 13:37 GMT
Qatari plans to reduce corporate rate could be expanded across the GCC ahead of currency union.
Single GCC tax may shackle Doha

16 May 2008, 13:03 GMT
There is belief in the potential for cross-border economic initiatives. Foreign direct investment in the GCC reached record levels last year.
Total to struggle to finalise deal with Iran on South Pars

13 May 2008, 16:20 GMT
France’s Total admitted it may be difficult to reach a deal with Iran over its investment in the South Pars gas field due to ongoing political wrangles but says it remains hopeful of agreeing on a deal in the longer-term.
Contractors compete for $2bn Yanbu upgrade

13 May 2008, 15:45 GMT
At least four international contractors are preparing to bid for the $2bn upgrade of the 400,000-barrel-a-day (b/d) oil refinery at Yanbu.
Jubail export refinery gains final approval

9 May 2008, 18:30 GMT
Saudi Aramco and France's Total have given final investment app-roval for the 400,000-barrel-a-day (b/d) Jubail export refinery almost three years after it was first proposed by the state-run company.
Shell selects firms for Ras Laffan work

9 May 2008, 18:00 GMT
The UK/Dutch Shell Group has prequalified a select group of companies for lucrative integrated service contracts on its $16bn-plus Pearl gas-to-liquids (GTL) facility at Ras Laffan.
Opec cannot ignore concerns of consuming nations

9 May 2008, 16:02 GMT
Sympathy for the cartel seems to evaporate by the day over its unwillingness to act over prices.
Saudi Arabia Empty Quarter gas: Six key people

9 May 2008, 15:12 GMT
The top six executives hunting for gas in Saudi Arabia's Empty Quarter: Abdulaziz al-Judaimi, Amin al-Nasser, Patrick Allman-Ward, Lorenzo Casati, Shicheng Wang and Radik Khusnullin.
Unrest stalls economic progress in Yemen

9 May 2008, 14:44 GMT
Following the collapse of a ceasefire between the Yemeni army and followers of the Zaydi sect, security is once again the key issue facing the government.
Radik Khusnullin

9 May 2008, 11:47 GMT
A top executive hunting for gas in Saudi Arabia’s Empty Quarter
Shicheng Wang

9 May 2008, 11:46 GMT
A top executive hunting for gas in Saudi Arabia’s Empty Quarter
Lorenzo Casati

9 May 2008, 11:44 GMT
A top executive hunting for gas in Saudi Arabia’s Empty Quarter
Patrick Allman-Ward

9 May 2008, 11:43 GMT
A top executive hunting for gas in Saudi Arabia’s Empty Quarter
Amin al-Nasser

9 May 2008, 11:42 GMT
A top executive hunting for gas in Saudi Arabia’s Empty Quarter
Oil backs off record price following Opec pledge

8 May 2008, 18:14 GMT
The oil price eased off its record high of nearly $124 on 8 May after Opec released a statement saying it was prepared to pump more crude to keep pace with demand if necessary.
Linde and Adnoc sign Habshan nitrogen deal

8 May 2008, 16:52 GMT
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) has signed an $800m deal with Germany’s Linde for the construction of two large air separation units for a nitrogen production plant at Habshan.
Iran to develop oil facilities to boost production

6 May 2008, 16:05 GMT
Iranian Offshore Oil Company (IOOC) expects to complete new onshore and offshore facilities at the Hendijan and Bahregansar fields by September, with production expected to top 60,000-barrels-a-day (b/d).
Halliburton wins three-year Abu Dhabi oil deal

6 May 2008, 15:10 GMT
Dubai-based Halliburton has won an oil field service contract aimed at increasing the overall performance of onshore oil and gas wells in Abu Dhabi emirate.
Doha fast-tracks programme to increase crude production

2 May 2008, 17:33 GMT
Gaz de France and Wintershall frontrunners for two offshore exploration blocks.
Aramco selects contractors for five-year energy plan

2 May 2008, 15:56 GMT
Companies to compete exclusively for billions of dollars worth of projects.
Austrian firm OMV buys Tunisian exploration stake

1 May 2008, 17:07 GMT
Austrian oil and gas major OMV has acquired an 80 per cent interest in an offshore exploration block in Tunisia from Thani Tunisia Sidi Mansour.
Oil falls from record high on strong dollar

1 May 2008, 16:22 GMT
Oil dropped to the $110 mark at the end of April, after the US dollar rose to a five-week high against the euro following the US Federal Reserve’s latest interest rate cut.
Axens wins Al-Shaheen refinery contract

30 April 2008, 18:06 GMT
Qatar Petroleum (QP) has awarded a process technology package for its 250,000-barrel-a-day (b/d) Al-Shaheen oil refinery to France’s Axens.
Iran drops dollar for crude exports

30 April 2008, 17:41 GMT
Iran has switched all of its currency trading for crude products to euros and yen from the US dollar as a reaction to Washington’s ongoing sanctions against Tehran.
Oil majors record hikes in profits

29 April 2008, 15:41 GMT
Two of the largest global oil majors, the UK’s BP and the UK/Dutch Shell Group, recorded strong jumps in profit during the first quarter of the year, partly due to record crude prices in excess of the $100 mark.
Gulfsands targets Iraq gas after reshuffling board

29 April 2008, 14:18 GMT
Gulfsands Petroleum plans to raise£9.35m ($18.5m) via a share placement to develop a gas project in Iraq as part of an overhaul of the company, which has resulted in the resignation of its chief executive officer and finance director.
Gas producers consider creating cartel

28 April 2008, 16:10 GMT
Russia is to suggest a charter for the creation of a gas cartel during a meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) in Tehran on 28-29 April.
Gulf Petroleum receives approval for $5bn Malaysia refinery

28 April 2008, 15:21 GMT
Qatar-based Gulf Petroleum, part-owned by the state’s royal family, has received final approval from Malaysia’s government for the construction of a $5bn oil and gas complex in the state of Perak.
Aramco agrees five-year drilling expansion plan

25 April 2008, 18:41 GMT
Oil Ministry set to approve massive boost in drilling activity and 40 per cent increase in investment.
Aramco set to award $3bn Manifa work

25 April 2008, 17:44 GMT
Snamprogetti, JGC Corporation and TR in line to win engineering, procurement and construction contracts.
Bringing price control to the region's energy

25 April 2008, 15:06 GMT
Saudi Aramco’s vision for a Gulf trading hub could boost the region’s oil and financial sectors.
Oil majors propose South Pars gas replacement

23 April 2008, 18:38 GMT
The UK/Dutch Shell Group and Spain’s Repsol have held talks with Iran’s Oil Ministry about replacing their South Pars phase 13 project with another gas project in the country.
Saipem profit rises to $234m as Gulf business grows

23 April 2008, 18:12 GMT
Italian oil field services company Saipem announced a 44 per cent increase in first quarter profit to Eur147m ($234m) from Eur102m, largely due to a 9 per cent rise in onshore revenues from increased activity in the Middle East.
Iraq sets deadline for Basra pipeline deal with Iran

22 April 2008, 14:40 GMT
Iraq’s Ministry of Oil has set a deadline of 24 April for contractors to bid for the $150m deal to design, supply and install a 60-kilometre oil export pipeline linking the Basra oil fields in southern Iraq with Iran's Abadan refinery.
Iran awards South Pars design deal

22 April 2008, 14:18 GMT
Iran Offshore Engineering & Construction (IOEC) has awarded a sub-contract to Australia’s Worley Parsons for the detailed design of elements of the platforms on phase 12 development of the giant South Pars gas field.
Sabic sees profit growth slow

21 April 2008, 17:42 GMT
Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) reported a slowing in profit growth in the first quarter, due to increased feedstock prices and sluggish demand in the US and Europe.
Halliburton wins Manifa oil drilling deal

21 April 2008, 17:15 GMT
US oil services firm Halliburton has been formally awarded a three-year contract for the drilling of 93 wells on the 900,000-barrel-a-day (b/d) Manifa oil field.
Contractors in Qatar lobby to cut risk exposure

18 April 2008, 17:19 GMT
Services companies hold talks with Qatar Petroleum over managing megaprojects on fixed-price contracts.
Soaring costs set to stall Aramco refinery

18 April 2008, 17:03 GMT
Budget for Jubail complex increases to more than $10bn while Yanbu costs double to $12-13bn.
Oil and gas contractors in Qatar lobby to cut risk exposure

18 April 2008, 16:39 GMT
Services companies hold talks with Qatar Petroleum over managing megaprojects on fixed-price contracts.
Oil majors refuse to agree to June deadline for Iran's South Pars

18 April 2008, 16:02 GMT
Oil Minister reiterates threat to offer stakes to rivals if commitment is not made.
South Korean firms face fierce competition

18 April 2008, 15:18 GMT
Despite a fall in the value and number of engineering, procurement and construction awards in the Middle East's energy sector over the past 12 months, opportunities have been growing for smaller, more nimble firms.
Growing power of local firms in the oil and gas contracting sector

18 April 2008, 12:13 GMT
Small, regional companies are becoming a significant force in the oil and gas contracting sector because of their increasing expertise, combined with valuable local knowledge.
Oil services: Boom time for ancillary sector

18 April 2008, 12:01 GMT
International oil services firms are increasingly winning work in the region as state oil companies call on their advanced technology and expertise to boost crude production.
Soaring material prices hit projects

18 April 2008, 11:40 GMT
The spiralling cost of materials has led to the postponement and even cancellation of some of the region’s major energy developments.
Oil hits new $115 record on US stockpile fears

17 April 2008, 15:48 GMT
Oil prices rocketed through the $115 a barrel mark on 17 April to set a new all-time record amid concern over new figures showing oil and gas stocks in the US were lower than expected.
Iraq awards $200m drilling contract to Drillmec

17 April 2008, 15:05 GMT
Italian rig manufacturer Drillmec has won a $207m order to provide 17 drill rigs to the state-run Iraq Drilling Company, for work in the southern oil fields and the northern Kirkuk region.
Oil firms backed by Abu Dhabi sign sales deal

16 April 2008, 18:24 GMT
Two Asian oil companies part owned by the Abu Dhabi government have signed a memorandum of understanding with each other to sell more gasoline and diesel to international buyers.
Iran issues warning over UAE gas deal

16 April 2008, 18:01 GMT
Iran has vowed to use gas promised to the UAE’s Crescent Petroleum for its own domestic use unless a long-running argument over pricing can be resolved.
Iran gas major creates four subsidiary firms

15 April 2008, 17:26 GMT
The National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) is to create four new companies to stimulate exploration and production, after receiving $1bn from Tehran’s Oil Stabilisation Fund in late 2007 to finance projects over the coming year.
Kuwait Energy buys assets from Oil Search

15 April 2008, 16:48 GMT
Australian energy firm Oil Search has sold the bulk of its Middle East and North African assets to independent exploration and production group Kuwait Energy Company for $200m.
Iran awards South Pars gas construction deal

14 April 2008, 18:05 GMT
Petropars, a subsidiary of National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), has awarded a $284m engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the development of the giant South Pars gas field to the local Aras consortium.
Iraq qualifies oil majors to bid for contracts

14 April 2008, 17:45 GMT
Iraq has qualified 35 international oil companies (IOCs) to bid for oil and gas service contracts as the first stage of its aim to lift crude production to 6 million barrels a day (b/d) by 2013 from 2.4 million b/d currently.
Riyadh extends Srak drilling deadline for Empty Quarter

11 April 2008, 16:41 GMT
Exploration company is granted 18-month extension to complete programme.
Saudi Aramco in negotiations over role at Jizan oil refinery

11 April 2008, 15:55 GMT
Project was to be the first in decades to be owned and operated by private sector.
Iran to finalise Yadavaran oil deal with Sinopec

9 April 2008, 16:48 GMT
National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) expects to finalise a long awaited contract with China’s Sinopec in April for the Yadavaran field in Khouzestan province, close to the border with Iraq.
Parker Drilling ends Saudi Riyadh venture as losses mount

9 April 2008, 15:58 GMT
Houston-based Parker Drilling Company has ended its troubled joint venture with the local Abdullah Rasheed al-Rushaid Company after incurring a $1.5m loss in a contract with client Saudi Aramco.
Iran signs oil exploration deal with Croatian firm

8 April 2008, 15:16 GMT
National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) has signed a deal with Croatian state oil firm, INA, for the exploration and development of an oil block in the province of Ardebil.
Consolidated Contractors awards $138m Ras Laffan pipes deal

8 April 2008, 14:44 GMT
Athens-based Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC) has awarded a $138m pipes and fittings subcontract to Dubai’s Future Pipe Industries for the common cooling seawater system at Ras Laffan Industrial City.
Iran targets South Pars development

7 April 2008, 15:34 GMT
The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) has instructed Pars Oil & Gas Company (POGC) to speed up progress on several key phases of the South Pars gas field development project.
Iran signs gas exploration deals

7 April 2008, 15:03 GMT
Iran Offshore Oil Company (IOOC) has finalised deals with a host of international companies for the development of its Farsi, Lavan and Kish gas fields.
Aramco to boost gas output at Karan

4 April 2008, 16:48 GMT
Masterplan sets out multi-billion-dollar investment in gas processing and sulphur recovery facilities.
Rising costs set to trigger Chiyoda losses in Qatar

4 April 2008, 15:05 GMT
Japanese firm set to announce further $150m drop in revenues from Qatari liquefied natural gas projects.
Partnerships will solve gridlock in Egypt

4 April 2008, 14:22 GMT
The Egyptian government has reformed the stock exchange, the telecoms market, its customs and courts. The electricity market will soon follow. Its greatest challenge, however, will come later this year when it starts to overhaul Cairo’s creaking transport network.
Gas hunt should be stepped up

4 April 2008, 14:10 GMT
The region’s hunger for gas shows no sign of abating and unless a large find is made soon, it will outstrip supply.
Iran oil: Six key people

4 April 2008, 13:45 GMT
The six most prominent people in Iran’s oil sector: Gholamhossein Nozari, Seifollah Jashnsaz, Seyed Mahmoud Mohaddes, Hojatollah Ghanimifard, Ali Kordan and Davoud Danesh-Jafari.
Ali Kordan

Issue No 14 4 - 10 April 2008
A prominent person in Iran’s oil sector
Davoud Danesh-Jafari

Issue No 14 4 - 10 April 2008
A prominent person in Iran’s oil sector
Gholamhossein Nozari

Issue No 14 4 - 10 April 2008
A prominent person in Iran’s oil sector
Hojatollah Ghanimifard

Issue No 14 4 - 10 April 2008
A prominent person in Iran’s oil sector
Seifollah Jashnsaz

Issue No 14 4 - 10 April 2008
A prominent person in Iran’s oil sector.
Seyed Mahmoud Mohaddes

Issue No 14 4 - 10 April 2008
A prominent person in Iran’s oil sector
Abu Dhabi issues fresh target for oil production

3 April 2008, 17:19 GMT
Abu Dhabi’s state-run offshore oil firm, Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company (Adma-Opco), expects to raise its crude capacity to 1 million barrels-a-day (b/d) within a decade.
Oil prices fall back due to higher stockpiles

3 April 2008, 16:16 GMT
Oil prices moved below the $105 mark on 3 April, with fears over the strength of the world economy offset by the latest data from the US showing that crude and fuel stockpiles are higher than usual.
Qatar to launch oil bid round

2 April 2008, 18:01 GMT
Qatar Petroleum (QP) is to launch an exploration round for four offshore blocks by November this year, with more than a dozen oil majors expected to bid for deals.
Kuwait to sign Vietnam refinery deal

2 April 2008, 17:15 GMT
Kuwait Petroleum International (KPI) is poised to sign a joint venture deal with Japanese refiner Idemitsu Kosan, to build a $5.8bn, 200,000-barrel-a-day refinery in northern Vietnam.
Mubadala buys into Shell’s Algerian assets

1 April 2008, 15:14 GMT
Abu Dhabi government-owned Mubadala Development Company has acquired a 20 per cent stake in the UK/Dutch Shell Group’s exploration and production ventures in Algeria, through its Liwa Energy subsidiary.
Qatar forecasts $2bn budget surplus

1 April 2008, 14:40 GMT
Qatar expects to record a 10 per cent increase in its budget surplus for the 2008/09 fiscal year which started on 1 April, taking the figure to QR7.4bn ($2bn) compared with QR6.74bn for the previous year.
Aramco upgrades refineries to meet US rules on sulphur

28 March 2008, 17:06 GMT
Saudi Aramco is to roll out a multi-billion-dollar scheme to reduce the sulphur content of gasoline produced at four refineries, in an effort to meet strict environmental regulations by 2013.
Aramco sparks hope of capacity increase at Harmaliyah field

28 March 2008, 16:34 GMT
Saudi Aramco is stepping up drilling at the Harmaliyah oil field near the giant Ghawar field, sparking hopes of a sizeable hike in capacity.
Sulphur clean-up makes economic sense in the region

28 March 2008, 15:09 GMT
The Gulf states’ belated attempt to comply with tighter international environmental standards on the sulphur content of their gasoline is well overdue.
Oil prices surge on Iraq pipeline bombing

27 March 2008, 17:52 GMT
Oil prices surged back past the $107 mark after the bombing of a key Iraqi oil pipeline raised fears among traders that terrorism may disrupt more supplies from the country.
Qatar forecasts 15 per cent GDP growth in 2008

27 March 2008, 16:58 GMT
Qatar has forecast gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 15.5 per cent this year, compared with 12.5 per cent in 2007, largely due to increased energy export revenues.
Stroytransgaz signs Iraq pipeline deal

26 March 2008, 17:26 GMT
Russian oil and gas construction firm Stroytransgaz has signed a preliminary deal with the Iraq North Oil Company to resurrect an oil export pipeline from Kirkuk to Syria’s Mediterranean terminal at Banias.
Sharjah rig firm's profits rise

26 March 2008, 16:51 GMT
Lamprell, a Sharjah-based drilling rig engineering firm, saw its net profit increase by 51 per cent in 2007 to reach $86.2m on the back of strong growth in its Middle East business.
Baghdad issues oil and gas tenders

25 March 2008, 16:04 GMT
Iraq’s Oil Ministry has issued tenders for the development of its Akkas gas field, the testing of several large oil fields and the construction an oil pipeline to Iran.
Aramco awards $300m oil rig supply deal

25 March 2008, 15:12 GMT
Saudi Aramco has awarded a $316m contract for two jack-up rigs to Houston-based supplier Hercules Offshore.
Samref plans $2bn Yanbu upgrade

20 March 2008, 17:33 GMT
Saudi Aramco and ExxonMobil Corporation have launched a $2bn upgrade of their 400,000-barrel-a-day (b/d) oil refinery at Yanbu in an effort to meet US environmental regulations by 2013.
Oil companies lobby Baghdad over future licensing round

20 March 2008, 16:38 GMT
Major oil companies have demanded changes to Iraq's first oil bid round since the US invasion, after it emerged that Baghdad is prioritising the development of existing fields on a service-only basis.
Baghdad needs Big Oil on board

20 March 2008, 14:57 GMT
Five years after the US-led invasion of Iraq toppled Saddam Hussein, oil majors are frantically positioning themselves to make the most of the opportunities in the country's mismanaged energy sector.
Q&A: Truls Gautesen, CEO, Qatalum

20 March 2008, 12:38 GMT
Gautesen looks at the growth in aluminium demand and the smelter’s future expansion plans
Qatalum

20 March 2008, 12:38 GMT
Qatar’s first aluminium smelter project marks the beginning a new, collaborative approach.
Qatalum: MEED Assessment

20 March 2008, 12:38 GMT
Qatar’s first aluminium smelter project marks the beginning a new, collaborative approach.
Iran signs Kish gas drilling deal

19 March 2008, 17:02 GMT
The state-run Iranian Petroleum Engineering and Development Company (IPEDC) and the National Iranian Drilling Company (NIDC) have signed a contract for drilling 12 wells in the massive Kish gas field.
Technology contract awarded on Pearl gas project

19 March 2008, 16:22 GMT
Japan’s JGC Corporation has awarded Finland’s Metso Automation a technology contract for work on the UK/Dutch Shell Group’s $20bn Pearl gas-to-liquids (GTL) project.
Saudi-US drilling venture in doubt due to delays

18 March 2008, 17:29 GMT
Houston-based Parker Drilling Company could end its joint venture with the local Abdullah Rasheed al-Rushaid Company after incurring an estimated $20m loss in a contract with client Saudi Aramco.
Swiss sign deal to import Iranian gas

18 March 2008, 17:20 GMT
Switzerland has defied US pressure for European firms to cut economic ties with Iran by signing a 25-year gas import deal for 5.5bn cubic feet a day (cf/d) with the National Iranian Gas Export Company (NIGEC).
Firms prepare Al-Shaheen refinery bids

17 March 2008, 16:58 GMT
At least seven contractors have prequalified for the main construction package on Qatar Petroleum’s $5bn Al-Shaheen grassroots refinery.
Technip wins Dukhan acid gas deal

17 March 2008, 15:48 GMT
France’s Technip has won the front-end engineering and design contract for a $250-300m acid gas removal project at the Dukhan oil field.
Tehran in talks over Dubai bourse listing

14 March 2008, 19:14 GMT
$90bn holding company could also feature on Frankfurt and Asian bourses to widen investor pool.
Shortages delay progress on Qatar liquefied natural gas trains

14 March 2008, 18:37 GMT
Work on three of the four liquefied natural gas (LNG) trains being built in Qatar has been delayed because of a lack of labour and materials.
Gulf will put its interests first despite US pressure over Iran

14 March 2008, 16:27 GMT
When Washington’s State Department revealed plans in 2006 to set up an office in Dubai to monitor and encourage political change in Iran, the die was cast for a tense period for Gulf political relations.
US increases pressure on Gulf over Tehran

14 March 2008, 16:09 GMT
Financial institutions are the current focus of US efforts to cut ties with Tehran.
Ashghal strikes pricing deal with suppliers

13 March 2008, 17:54 GMT
Qatar's Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has signed price escalation clauses with four suppliers to cover the cost of raw material fluctuations.
Oil stays high after hitting $110-plus record

13 March 2008, 14:09 GMT
Oil prices hit a record high above $110 a barrel on 13 March as the US dollar fell to new lows against the euro and a fresh 12-year low against the yen. Analysts now predict it could stay above $100 for some time.
Ashghal agrees deal over price with suppliers

13 March 2008, 13:12 GMT
Qatar's Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has signed price escalation clauses with four suppliers to cover the cost of fluctuations in raw materials.
Tehran signs exploration deal with Vietnam

12 March 2008, 18:22 GMT
Tehran has signed a $115m oil exploration deal with Vietnam’s state run Petrovietnam Exploration Production Corporation covering the Danan area in the southwest region of Iran.
Oil majors face June deadline for South Pars

12 March 2008, 17:59 GMT
June is the final deadline for UK/Dutch Shell Group and France’s Total to sign for work on the planned South Pars gas field or lose out to other contractors, according to the Iranian oil minister
Iran and Indonesia sign refinery deal

11 March 2008, 16:43 GMT
Iran signed a deal on 11 March to set up a 300,000-barrel-a-day (b/d) oil refinery in Indonesia as part of a joint venture between the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) and Indonesian state oil firm Pertamina.
Firms line up for Karan gas packages

11 March 2008, 16:19 GMT
Contractors have indicated their interest in the two main packages for the central engineering and construction deals on the massive Karan gas field project.
Iran strikes new Azadegan oil find

10 March 2008, 17:58 GMT
Iran has discovered a new oil layer holding a potential 2.2 billion barrels of oil in the Azadegan oil field.
Oman buys Hungarian oil stake

10 March 2008, 17:24 GMT
Oman Oil Company (OOC) is to buy an eight per cent stake in Hungarian oil firm MOL for around $1.3bn as part of a deal that will also involve the two companies embarking on joint ventures in the Middle East and central Europe.
Occidental agrees to Abu Dhabi partnership deal

10 March 2008, 16:05 GMT
The US’ Occidental Petroleum has signed a deal with Abu Dhabi’s International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) to jointly develop upstream and downstream projects in the Middle East and beyond.
Service giants split $1bn Manifa heavy oil drilling work

7 March 2008, 18:20 GMT
Global oil service giants France’s Schlumberger and the US’ Halliburton are to be awarded separate drilling deals worth up to $1bn in total by Saudi Aramco for the 900,000-barrel-a-day (b/d) Manifa heavy oil field.
Aramco to miss Khursaniyah deadline

7 March 2008, 18:13 GMT
Boost in production to 500,000 barrels a day unlikely to be achieved until later in the year.
Qatar Petroleum drops plans for engineering services venture

29 February 2008, 17:55 GMT
State oil firm to issue contracts to wider market after talks come to an end.
Aramco links gas payments to deadlines

29 February 2008, 17:01 GMT
Saudi Aramco is considering linking some payments to contractors for the central engineering and construction contracts on the massive Karan gas field to a series of strict deadlines.
Qatar's Energy Minister on expansion ambitions

29 February 2008, 16:09 GMT
Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah has the difficult task of balancing international ambitions with domestic oil and gas expansion.
US to examine China’s gas deal with Iran

28 February 2008, 15:02 GMT
A $16bn gas deal between China and Iran could be hit by US sanctions, after Washington said it was examining the deal to see if it breaks US law.
Maersk awards offshore crude tanker deal

28 February 2008, 14:41 GMT
Denmark’s Maersk Oil has awarded a contract to two tanker firms for the floating storage of Qatari crude, close to the offshore Al Shaheen oil field.
Iran awards engineering deal on South Pars

27 February 2008, 18:14 GMT
Pars Oil and Gas Company (POGC) has awarded a $17m engineering contract on its South Pars 17-18 gas development to Ranhill WorleyParsons.
Iran delays signing $16bn Chinese gas deal

27 February 2008, 17:40 GMT
Iran has delayed signing a contract with China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) for the development of its northern Pars gas field.
Firms submit interest in Manifa gas package

26 February 2008, 16:56 GMT
Twelve companies have expressed interest to Saudi Aramco for the gas processing package on the onshore portion of its 900,000 barrel-a-day (b/d) Manifa heavy oil field development.
McDermott favourite for Barzan offshore deal

26 February 2008, 16:46 GMT
Jebel Ali-based J Ray McDermott is understood to be the sole contender for the offshore component of Qatar Petroleum’s (QP) Barzan gas field development.
Aramco awards offshore drilling deal to US firm

25 February 2008, 16:14 GMT
Saudi Aramco has awarded a three-year, $201m drilling contract to Houston-based Rowan Companies for offshore work.
Crescent signs Sharjah exploration deal

25 February 2008, 15:45 GMT
Crescent Petroleum has signed a 25-year exploration and production deal for oil and gas with the government of Sharjah.
Dubai bars Iranian firms following US sanctions pressure

22 February 2008, 17:44 GMT
Dubai is unofficially barring Iranian companies from setting up in the emirate following US pressure to enforce financial sanctions against Tehran.
Aramco splits Jubail contracts to minimise risk of cost rises

22 February 2008, 17:38 GMT
State-owned oil giant invites contractors to submit fixed-price bids.
Exposure to risk slashes returns for energy services firms

22 February 2008, 13:45 GMT
Spiralling prices are wiping out profits for many energy services firms.
Technip posts a loss due to Qatar gas writedown

21 February 2008, 16:58 GMT
Oil services company Technip has reported a fourth quarter net loss of $144m, largely due to a cost writedown on its four liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects inQatar.
Maersk strikes Al-Shaheen drilling deal

21 February 2008, 15:53 GMT
Denmark’s Maersk Oil has agreed a drilling field development plan as part of ongoing work on the $5bn Al-Shaheen oil field, with the aim of boosting capacity from 240,000 barrels-a-day (b/d) to 525,000 b/d by 2009 .
Qatar fourth quarter inflation steady at 13.7 per cent

20 February 2008, 17:48 GMT
Qatar’s inflation rate for the fourth quarter was steady at 13.74 per cent for the three months to the end of December, as rents and food prices remained high.
Aramco tenders Karan gas pipeline award

20 February 2008, 16:45 GMT
Saudi Aramco has invited contractors to bid for a 300-kilometre subsea pipeline package for its offshore Karan gas field.
Doha’s soaring rents drive inflation

20 February 2008, 9:26 GMT
The steady rise in rental prices in both the residential and commercial sectors is causing concern.
Firms to study Manifa gas package

19 February 2008, 14:04 GMT
Saudi Aramco is to hold a briefing for contractors on 25 February to outline the gas processing package of the 900,000-barrel-a-day Manifa oil field development.
Aramco presses ahead with key refinery contracts

19 February 2008, 13:07 GMT
Saudi Aramco has given a firm indication that it intends to proceed with two of its largest refinery projects, after issuing details of new engineering and construction packages to contractors.
Qatar Petroleum confirms sale of subsidiaries

18 February 2008, 17:08 GMT
The state-run oil company Qatar Petroleum (QP) is to sell a 70 per cent stake in a new holding company which groups together three of its service firms, as part of an initial public offering starting on 28 February.
Qatargas rejects $700m payment claims

15 February 2008, 17:16 GMT
Qatargas has rebuffed a claim for more than $700m in additional payments from contractors dev-eloping one of its largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects: Qatargas II.
Aramco excludes South Korean bidders for Jubail

15 February 2008, 17:04 GMT
Saudi Aramco and its joint venture partner Total have banned South Korean contractors from bidding for a major engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) deal on the $12bn-plus Jubail export refinery, citing the high levels of technical expertise required for the project.
Srak to miss Empty Quarter well drilling target

15 February 2008, 16:43 GMT
The South Rub al-Khali (Srak) exploration company expects to complete drilling on only one more well in the Rub al-Khali (Empty Quarter) before its contract with Saudi Aramco expires in January 2009.
Tehran offers loans to boost share sale

15 February 2008, 16:28 GMT
Tehran is relaunching initial public offerings (IPOs) in two state-owned firms, backed by cut-price loans for investors, in the latest sign that the economy is suffering.
Opec's El-Badri on the euro and oil dinosaurs

15 February 2008, 15:27 GMT
Despite record revenues, oil cartel Opec faces some tough decisions, such as whether to abandon dollar pricing.
Gas-rich Qatar cannot ignore construction cost risk

15 February 2008, 12:37 GMT
The construction boom lifted the fortunes of oil services companies hired to engineer schemes and build facilities in Qatar, while a massive jump in material and labour costs has made the climate more difficult for service companies.
Saudi Aramco - Opening markets for heavy crude

15 February 2008, 12:33 GMT
As production of Arabian Light begins to decline, Saudi Arabia's state oil giant is signing joint venture agreements in Asia to build refineries capable of handling heavier grades.
Long-term gas deals set to dwindle

14 February 2008, 17:39 GMT
Almost half of future liquefied natural gas (LNG) deals may not be sold under traditional long-term contracts, with traders instead buying gas and reselling it to the highest bidders, according to a new report.
South Korea wins second Kurdistan exploration deal

14 February 2008, 15:48 GMT
South Korea has agreed a memorandum of understanding with the Kurdistan Regional Government to explore four new oil fields in Iraq’s northern region.
Firms prepare bids for Manifa pipeline contract

12 February 2008, 16:12 GMT
Contractors are expected to submit bids by 16 February to provide pipelines and power cable equipment for the next phase of development at the 900,000-barrel-a-day (b/d) offshore Manifa field.
Five firms bid for Barzan gas project

12 February 2008, 15:40 GMT
Five contractors have submitted bids for the onshore part of the Barzan gas development scheme, after Qatar Petroleum (QP) extended the deadline.
Oman inflation hits new high

11 February 2008, 15:54 GMT
Oman’s inflation rate hit a 16-year high of 8.29 per cent in December mostly due to a large increase in food, beverage and tobacco costs.
Oman discovers new oil and gas reserves

11 February 2008, 15:29 GMT
Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) says it has found significant volumes of natural gas in a new field and in an extension to an existing field.
Tehran opens energy sector to overseas investment

8 February 2008, 17:52 GMT
Holding company for 47 oil and gas firms to list on international bourses
Baghdad plans to double oil production

8 February 2008, 17:42 GMT
Oil minister reveals five-year plan for a further three fields to increase output to 6 million barrels a day
Opec considers switch to euro pricing

8 February 2008, 16:14 GMT
Opec secretary general Abdalla El-Badri tells MEED in an exclusive interview that the producers’ cartel may switch to the euro within a decade to combat the dollar’s decline.
Falling dollar concerns Opec

8 February 2008, 15:11 GMT
The difficulties faced by Opec members as a result of the falling US dollar remain a deep concern to the oil cartel. Despite a barrel of crude topping $100 in early January, the 13-member body has lost tens of billions of dollars in potential earnings since the turn of the century, as the greenback has fallen against other currencies.
ExxonMobil and Qatar Petroleum: A profitable partnership

8 February 2008, 12:03 GMT
ExxonMobil is involved in more than 80 per cent of Qatar’s gas projects. MEED speaks to Alex Dodds, its head of operations for the emirate.
Doha, the region’s peacemaker

8 February 2008, 11:56 GMT
Doha’s invitation to Iran to attend the GCC summit in December 2007 demonstrates its growing diplomatic influence. However, domestic political reform remains slow.
Getting Qatari inflation under control

8 February 2008, 11:45 GMT
With the inflation rate in the emirate expected to hit 15 per cent in 2008, the Qatari government is under increasing pressure to revalue its currency.
Total pulls out of Empty Quarter gas search

7 February 2008, 18:26 GMT
France’s Total has pulled the plug on its involvement in the South Rub al-Khali (Srak) exploration company although another shareholder, the UK/Dutch Shell Group, says it remains committed to the search for gas in Saudi Arabia’s Empty Quarter.
Consolidated Contractors wins $600m Ras Laffan water cooling deal

7 February 2008, 17:35 GMT
Athens-based Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC) has won a $600m engineering, procurement and commissioning contract for the common cooling seawater system at Ras Laffan Industrial City.
Saudi Aramco to boost capacity at offshore Karan gas field

1 February 2008, 17:46 GMT
Saudi Aramco is to increase capacity at its Karan gas field development by 50 per cent as it looks to keep pace with soaring domestic demand.
Big Oil assists with Qatar North field studies

1 February 2008, 17:39 GMT
Qatar Petroleum brings in international expertise to gain greater understanding of the giant reservoir
High oil prices help industry absorb rising exploration costs

1 February 2008, 15:50 GMT
For an industry already grappling with labour shortages and hikes in raw material prices, the surge in the cost of oil rigs in recent years is a further, unwelcome complication.
Two firms vie for acid gas removal contract in Qatar

31 January 2008, 16:34 GMT
Two companies are competing for the front-end engineering and design work on an acid gas removal contract at Dukhan.
Iran tenders contract on Saleh gas field

31 January 2008, 16:17 GMT
Iranian Offshore Oil Company (IOOC) has invited companies to prequalify for a new contracting tender for the Saleh gas field located in the Hormuz Strait.
Iran tenders upgrade of Hormuz and Tasan fields

29 January 2008, 15:54 GMT
The Iranian Offshore Oil Company (IOOC) has launched a tender for the upgrade of the Hormuz and Tasan oil and gas fields in an effort to boost production.
Aramco requests Manifa gas interest

29 January 2008, 13:58 GMT
Saudi Aramco has requested interest from contractors for the package for gas processing facilities on the onshore portion of its 900,000 barrel-a-day (b/d) Manifa heavy oil field.
Iran awards South Pars utilities deal

28 January 2008, 16:29 GMT
The National Iranian Gas Export Company (NIGEC) has awarded a $100m contract for Phase 12 of its South Pars development to a joint venture of two local firms, Itok Iran and Pars International Development and Engineering Company (Pideco).
Contractors line up for major Iran gas pipeline

28 January 2008, 16:05 GMT
Contractors have submitted proposals for a construction contract covering an 1,800 kilometre long cross-country gas pipeline in Iran.
Qatalum to double smelter capacity

25 January 2008, 15:16 GMT
Plan for second phase of aluminium plant project would create region’s largest facility by 2010
Ashghal to remove price fluctuation risk from contracts

25 January 2008, 15:09 GMT
Qatar’s Public Works Authority (Ashghal) is to follow the lead of the emirate’s electricity and water operator, Kahramaa, by giving contractors price escalation clauses to cover the cost of raw material and currency fluctuations.
GCC to reap $6 trillion oil windfall

24 January 2008, 16:44 GMT
GCC countries stand to collectively earn more than $6 trillion by 2022, more than triple the amount they earned from 1993 to 2006, according to a new report.
Kahramaa to use private finance for expansion

24 January 2008, 15:19 GMT
Kahramaa, Qatar’s state-run electricity and water corporation, is to use private finance for the first time as part of plans to expand its transmission and distribution network.
Qatar health reforms to double hospital beds

23 January 2008, 18:42 GMT
Qatar is to double the number of hospital beds to 2,000 within five years, as part of a wave of infrastructure developments in the healthcare sector.
Kahramaa to delay price rises

23 January 2008, 18:34 GMT
Qatar’s state run power and water company Kahramaa says it will avoid increasing tariffs in 2008 in an attempt to avoid contributing to local inflation.
Muscat revives gas talks with Tehran

22 January 2008, 17:31 GMT
Oman has restarted talks with Iran over development of the Kish and Hengam-West Bukha gas fields.
Qatar inflation forecast hits 15 per cent

22 January 2008, 16:06 GMT
Qatar National Bank (QNB) expects inflation to rise to 15 per cent in 2008, despite comments by the country’s finance minister that the sale of bonds would help to dampen inflation by soaking up excess liquidity.
Environmental fears force review of Jizan refinery site

18 January 2008, 15:48 GMT
Project faces nine-month delay after study reveals potential damage to Red Sea
Aramco faces delays on key projects

18 January 2008, 15:27 GMT
Saudi Aramco has conceded that several of its key expansion projects face delays because of shortages of materials, but says it still expects to meet its production targets.
Oil majors lobby for exploration guarantees

18 January 2008, 14:42 GMT
International firms press Baghdad to grant more generous contract terms to reflect long-term commitment
Iran rekindles $22bn gas deal with India

17 January 2008, 15:52 GMT
Iran has rekindled a long-disputed $22bn liquefied natural gas (LNG) agreement with India, following diplomatic talks in New Delhi between the two countries.
Sabb boosts fourth quarter profits

16 January 2008, 19:09 GMT
Sabb - the Saudi bank that is 40 per cent owned by HSBC - saw its profits grow for the second consecutive quarter on the back of higher lending.
Firms prepare bids for Barzan onshore gas scheme

15 January 2008, 16:15 GMT
Five prequalified international contractors are expected to submit bids for the onshore component of the Barzan gas development scheme, after Qatar Petroleum (QP) extended the closing date until the end of January.
Firms submit bids for Ras Laffan cooling contract

15 January 2008, 15:01 GMT
Revised commercial bids have been submitted for the common cooling seawater system at Ras Laffan Industrial City following clarification meetings with the client, Qatar Petroleum.
Qatar National Bank announces record profit

14 January 2008, 16:05 GMT
Profits at Qatar National Bank (QNB) rose by more than a quarter in 2007, on the back of strong growth in customer deposits and loans.
Tehran delays tender for Lavan gas project

14 January 2008, 13:35 GMT
Iranian Offshore Oil Company (IOOC) has delayed the deadline for companies to submit pre-qualifying documents for the giant Lavan gas field project by a month.
Saudi Aramco steps up the search for gas

11 January 2008, 12:54 GMT
With some of the largest proven gas reserves in the world, Saudi Aramco is expanding its exploration programme in a bid to meet soaring demand from Saudi industry.
Saudi Aramco: Ghawar secrecy fuels fears of oil decline

11 January 2008, 12:46 GMT
A surge in drilling activity at the world’s largest oil field has led to speculation within the industry that production at the site is falling, with a lack of information on Aramco’s plans adding to the concern.
Increasing demand drives Saudi Aramco expansion

11 January 2008, 11:58 GMT
With bumper revenues from the soaring oil prices of the past three years, Saudi Aramco is investing $90bn to boost oil production to meet growing global demand for energy.
Sector outlook 2008: Energy

4 January 2008, 17:11 GMT
The drive to push through previously uneconomic projects will continue while oil prices remain high.With oil prices averaging about $72 a barrel in 2007, national oil companies (NOCs) in the region are flush with cash. From oil powerhouses, such as Saudi Aramco, through to emerging gas-focused exploration giants, such as Algeria's Sonatrach and Libya's National Oil Corporation, the drive to push through previously uneconomic projects while prices remain high will continue in 2008.
Fresh cost fears hit Gulf energy projects

21 December 2007, 11:48 GMT
Critical shortages in equipment and labour threaten to delay Khursaniyah, Al-Zour and Duqm schemes
Russian and Indian firms vie for stakes in Azadegan field

21 December 2007, 11:22 GMT
Russia’s Lukoil and India’s Reliance Industries are holding talks with National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) to buy stakes in the country’s giant Azadegan oil field, which has reserves in excess of 40 billion barrels. Lukoil entered talks after the collapse of a previous bid to develop the field by a joint venture of Japan’s Inpex and the state-run oil firm in October 2006. Reliance is thought to have started negotiations in the past few months.
Delaying projects risks raising costs

21 December 2007, 10:51 GMT
High oil prices have been a recurring theme throughout 2007. Unfortunately, so have rocketing development prices and project delays. This is leading to bouts of indecision, which will have a long-term impact.
Iran to sign Italian gas export deal

20 December 2007, 16:06 GMT
Iran is to sign a natural gas export agreement with Italy early in 2008 following talks between officials this month.
Iran to privatise Fanavaran energy firm

20 December 2007, 15:44 GMT
Petrochemicals company Fanavaran is to be the first energy company floated in Iran, after the head of the Iranian Privatisation Organisation said it would join the Tehran bourse next week.
Iran tenders Esfandiar oil field development

19 December 2007, 16:55 GMT
Iranian Offshore Oil Company (IOOC) has issued an international tender for the Esfandiar oil field development in the Gulf.
Linde signs industrial gas deal for Abu Dhabi

19 December 2007, 16:34 GMT
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) has agreed to a joint venture with Germany’s Linde for the production and long-term supply of industrial gases to customers in the emirate.
Bapco appoints chief executive

18 December 2007, 15:03 GMT
Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) has appointed a chief executive to replace Dr Mustafa al-Sayed who was appointed in 2004.
Daelim and JGC sign $2bn Jubail contracts

18 December 2007, 14:44 GMT
South Korea’s Daelim Industrial Company and Japan’s JGC Corporation have signed contracts for the $4.8bn Jubail olefins complex, planned by the US/local National ChevronPhillips Company
Daelim wins $960m Jubail olefins deal

17 December 2007, 16:49 GMT
South Korea’s Daelim Industrial Company has won the $960m polyolefins package on the Jubail petrochemicals complex, awarded by National ChevronPhillips Company, a joint venture between the US oil major and a local investor.
Takreer to build Ruwais oil refinery

17 December 2007, 16:27 GMT
Abu Dhabi Oil Refining Company (Takreer) will build an oil refinery to manufacture lubricants in Ruwais with Neste Oil from Finland and OMV from Austria.
Indian firm in talks over Yadavaran

14 December 2007, 14:19 GMT
India’s ONGC Videsh has launched talks with National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) over securing a minority stake in the Yadavaran field alongside China’s Sinopec.
Sinopec triples oil from Iran

13 December 2007, 17:00 GMT
Iran is to triple the level of crude oil it supplies to China’s Sinopec Corporation next year as a reward for a landmark deal it signed on 10 December to develop the Yadavaran field.
Bomb attack kills 47 in Algiers

11 December 2007, 16:15 GMT
Insurgents have killed at least 47 people in the Algerian capital Algiers using car bombs in the country’s deadliest attack since the 1990s.
Conoco and Qatar to develop international deals

11 December 2007, 15:16 GMT
ConocoPhillips of the US has signed an agreement with Qatar Petroleum International (QPI) to jointly develop energy projects outside Qatar.
Sinopec signs Yadavaran deal

10 December 2007, 15:08 GMT
Tehran has signed a long-awaited contract with China’s Sinopec for the development of the Yadavaran field in Khouzestan province, close to the border with Iraq.
Tripoli awards gas permits

10 December 2007, 14:05 GMT
Libya’s National Oil Corporation has awarded permits in its first gas exploration licensing round to Algeria’s Sonatrach, Russia’s Gazprom, the UK/Dutch Shell Group and Poland’s Polskie Gornictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo.
Riyadh must give majors more time

10 December 2007, 11:23 GMT
Four years after Shell and Total signed their initial agreement to explore Saudi Arabia's Rub al-Khali (Empty Quarter) for gas, progress for the consortium and three others has been disappointing. Few hydrocarbons have so far been discovered.
Sumitomo to expand PetroRabigh plant

7 December 2007, 18:14 GMT
Saudi Aramco and Japan’s Sumitomo Chemical Company are in talks to expand their Rabigh Refining & Petrochemical Company (PetroRabigh) integrated refinery and petrochemicals complex on the Red Sea coast.
Iran tenders Alpha oil field

7 December 2007, 17:45 GMT
Iranian Offshore Oil Company (IOOC) has issued an international tender for the Alpha oil field development in the Persian Gulf.
Sinopec gas find sparks exploration hopes in Empty Quarter

7 December 2007, 17:40 GMT
A company exploring for hydrocarbons in the Rub al-Khali, (Empty Quarter) has found gas, sparking hopes of the first meaningful discovery in the region.
Saudi's Empty Quarter: Gas hunt comes up empty

7 December 2007, 16:47 GMT
Pressure on firms to find gas in Saudi Arabia's Rub al-Khali (Empty Quarter) is intensifying.
Total buys into Sinopec exploration stake

6 December 2007, 17:24 GMT
France’s Total has acquired a 40 per cent stake in two onshore blocks run by China’s Sinopec.
Iran issues Lavan gas tender

6 December 2007, 16:42 GMT
Iranian Offshore Oil Company (IOOC) has issued an international tender for the giant Lavan gas field development which boasts recoverable gas resources estimated at more than 6 trillion cubic feet (tcf).
Opec rejects calls to increase oil output

5 December 2007, 18:00 GMT
Opec has rejected demands from oil consumers to increase output but says it will review the situation early in 2008.
Delayed onshore Barzan gas tender launched

5 December 2007, 17:06 GMT
Qatar Petroleum (QP) and ExxonMobil have issued invitations to bid for the front-end engineering and design package on the onshore portion of the Barzan gas development.
Verenex reveals fourth oil find in Ghadames Basin

4 December 2007, 16:33 GMT
Canada-based Verenex Energy has confirmed a fourth consecutive oil discovery on its area 47 acreage in the Ghadames Basin, following further drilling over the past six months.
Loon cements Damascus exploration deal

4 December 2007, 15:45 GMT
Canada’s Loon Energy has received government approval of an exploration and production sharing agreement (EPSA) with the Petroleum & Mineral Resources Ministry for the 10,100-square-kilometre block 9 in the northwest.
Governments to discuss demise of Gassi Touil deal

3 December 2007, 16:39 GMT
Madrid is to host a summit with Algiers in 2008 in an effort to resolve a dispute between Spanish firms Repsol and Gas Natural, and Algeria's state-owned energy company Sonatrach over a failed gas project.
Samsung wins $430m Ras Tanura upgrade

3 December 2007, 15:44 GMT
South Korea’s Samsung Engineering has beaten six rivals, including three from its home country, to win the $430 million contract to install a diesel hydrotreater at the Ras Tanura refinery.
Qatar in talks to form joint venture with PetroChina

3 December 2007, 15:35 GMT
Qatar is considering making its first foray into China's energy market after initiating talks with PetroChina to build a refinery and associated petrochemicals plant.
Iraq revives Nasiriyah refinery project

30 November 2007, 16:35 GMT
Iraq’s Oil Minister has announced plans to resurrect the Nasiriyah refinery project, 18 months after bids were first submitted for the 300,000-barrel-a-day project.
Petrofac wins In Salah gas deal

30 November 2007, 15:43 GMT
UAE-based Petrofac International has been awarded the $600m contract to build gas compression facilities at the In Salah field in the central Sahara area.
WorleyParsons wins $8bn refinery deal

30 November 2007, 14:47 GMT
Australia's WorleyParsons has scooped one of the largest basic engineering deals in the kingdom this year, winning the first contract for Saudi Aramco's $8bn East Coast refinery at Ras Tanura.
Riyadh arrests 208 over attacks on oil plants

29 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
Saudi Arabia has arrested more than 200 people across the kingdom accused of planning a series of raids, including attacks on oil installations.
Thailand’s PTT takes Egypt pipeline stake

29 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
Thailand’s state-owned oil and gas company, PTT, has signed a deal to take a 25 per cent stake in the local/Israeli East Mediterranean Gas (EMG) for $487m.
Aramco launches Medina storage facility

28 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
Saudi Aramco has launched its fourth strategic storage facility in Medina which will receive petroleum products through a 162km pipeline from Yanbu refinery.
QP eyes Ras Laffan cooling expansion

28 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
Qatar Petroleum (QP) is preparing a further $500m expansion of the common seawater cooling system at Ras Laffan Industrial City in order to meet expected demand of over 1m cubic metres of cooling water by 2010.
Exploration returns stagnate as costs surge

27 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
International oil companies are struggling to maintain strong returns from exploration as drilling costs have surged by 60 per cent in the past three years, despite oil nearing $100 a barrel.
Turkey’s Fernas wins $100m gas deal

27 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
Turkey’s Fernas Construction has won a $100m contract to construct gas pipelines and support systems at its Ras Laffan and Mesaieed complexes from Qatar Petroleum.
Qatar petrochemicals: A shock to the system

26 November 2007, 10:33 GMT
Rising costs and adverse credit market conditions are raising doubts over Doha's plans to expand its petrochemicals industry.
Aramco signs $1.5bn of fuel contracts

26 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
Saudi Aramco has signed agreements with local fuel transportation companies worth SR5.6bn ($1.49bn) in a bid to increase its distribution network in the kingdom.
Inflation hits high as rental costs surge

26 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
Qatar’s third quarter inflation has jumped by 14 per cent, up from 10.6 per cent in the first six months of 2007, on the back of a massive increase in rental costs.
Opec must set fresh priorities

24 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
While Opec spent much of its third summit discussing themes of international co-operation and climate change action, its reluctance to tackle a host of more worrying financial issues is troubling.
Opec struggles to maintain control

23 November 2007, 16:06 GMT
The oil cartel failed in its attempt to present a united front at its strategic summit in Riyadh.
Aramco in talks over billion-dollar boost to Shaybah field

23 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
Saudi Aramco is in talks for a further $1.25bn, 250,000-barrel-a-day (b/d) expansion of its Shaybah field. If it goes ahead, the field will become one of six in the kingdom with a production capacity of at least 1 million b/d.
Reliance signs exploration deal

22 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
The Ministry of Oil and Minerals has signed two exploration and production sharing agreements with India’s Reliance Industries and local partner Hoodoil, covering blocks 34 and 37 in the eastern part of Yemen.
Saudi considers Middle East peace talks

22 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
Saudi Arabia is considering taking part in a Middle East peace conference with Israel, after US President George Bush and regional peace envoy Tony Blair held talks with King Abdullah earlier this week.
Bahrain to import gas from Iran within three years

21 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
Iran expects to begin an export deal to supply 1 billion cubic feet a day (cf/d) of gas to Bahrain by 2010, with the first price negotiations scheduled for Tehran in early 2008.
Death toll of pipeline fire hits 40

21 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
The death toll from a fire on a Saudi Aramco gas pipeline has risen to 40 construction workers, rising from an initial estimate of 28.
Iran seeks oil majors for new field tender

21 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
The National Central Iranian Oil Company (NICOC) is to put the development of 18 new oil and gas fields out to international tender within the next two months.
Soaring Doha rents drive inflation

20 November 2007, 14:54 GMT
The steady rise in rental prices in both the residential and commercial sectors is causing concern
Al-Naimi commits to expansion drive

16 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
Kingdom pushes ahead with Yanbu and Jizan despite rising costs and concerns over oil major interest
Consortiums call for more time to explore Empty Quarter

16 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
Two more consortiums exploring for gas in the Rub al-Khali (Empty Quarter) have asked Riyadh for more time to drill for gas, as the search intensifies before their concessions end in 2009.
WorleyParsons leads bidders for east coast refinery deal

16 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
The US’ WorleyParsons is in pole position to win the project management and basic engineering contract at the $7-8bn, 400,000-barrel-a-day (b/d) east coast refinery at Ras Tanura.
Big oil to boost Manama capacity

15 November 2007, 0:00 GMT
International oil companies (IOCs) are pledging to double the capacity of Bahrain’s onshore Awali oil field to 70,000 barrels a day (b/d) and boost gas production to 2,000 million cubic feet a day (cf/d).
Tunisia: Switching resources from oil to gas

12 October 2007, 13:30 GMT
As its ageing oil fields begin to dry up, Tunis is bringing in investment to develop its considerable gas reserves.
Hasdrubal: Crucial gas strategy begins to take shape

12 October 2007, 13:30 GMT
The state wants to ensure it has enough gas to supply the power sector for the next 15 years.
Nuclear power: Joining the nuclear club

10 August 2007, 11:39 GMT
Just a year ago, the idea of the Middle East turning its attention to nuclear power seemed fanciful. With abundant oil and gas reserves and record oil prices, the region appeared to have little need for alternative energy sources. But after four successive years of rapid economic and population growth, the frantic battle by state-run utilities to ensure demand does not outpace supply has not gone unnoticed by governments in the region.
Rewriting the Qatari financial rules

20 July 2007, 12:32 GMT
Qatar's decision to unify all of its financial services authorities in a single regulator will help it close the gap on Dubai and Bahrain. But the repurcussions could go much further.

MEEDPerry Williams

MEED
Perry Williams