Tag Archives | Russia

Lukoil to Boost Spending at West Qurna-2 to $2bn in 2012

Lukoil plans to boost investment at its West Qurna-2 oil field in Iraq to about $2 billion this year. Russia’s largest non- state company plans to carry out drilling and begin construction of a pipeline as it prepares the field for the start of production. The company invested more than $200 million in the project […]

Iraq Approves Sale of Statoil Stake in West Qurna-2 to Lukoil

Platts reports that the Iraqi oil minister, Abdul Karim Luaibi [Elaibi], has approved the sale of Statoil's 18.75% stake in the giant West Qurna-2 oil field to the project operator, Russia's Lukoil. Meanwhile, Reuters reports that the Norwegian oil giant has confirmed that it is in talks to sell its stake to Lukoil. "Both Lukoil and […]

Russia to Strengthen Ties with Iraq

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (pictured) announced on Thursday that Russia would continue helping Iraq to become a democratic, independent country and to preserve its territorial integrity, something that meets the Iraqi people’s interests and is in line with regional stability and security. In a letter delivered to Iraqi Prime Minister, he also signaled Russia's readiness […]

Statoil to Sell West Qurna-2 Stake to LUKoil

Russia’s LUKoil is set to become the only foreign operator of the West Qurna-2 oil project in Iraq after its partner, the Norwegian company Statoil, asked Iraq's oil ministry for permission to sell its stake, according to The Voice of Russia. The Iraqi Oil Ministry has reportedly approved the deal, which would give LUKoil a […]

Gazprom Neft Starts Drilling Second Well at Badra

OAO Gazprom Neft started drilling a second appraisal well at the Badra oilfield, according to a report from Bloomberg. The Russian producer, which started drilling the first such well at Badra in November, expects to complete the second well in spring, and plans to approve the field development plant in February 2013. (Source: Bloomberg)

Russia’s Bashneft Eyes Iraqi Oil

Russia’s Interfax news agency reports that OAO Bashneft is in talks to form a consortium to develop Iraqi oil fields. The company, controlled by billionaire Vladimir Evtushenkov’s AFK Sistema, reportedly wants to be a junior partner in a consortium that will bid in the next round of tenders for Iraqi oil fields. (Source: Bloomberg)

Lukoil to Explore in Iraq?

Lukoil is interested in seeking exploration licenses in Iraq, according to a report from Bloomberg. The company's Chief Executive Officer, Vagit Alekperov, met Iraq's Oil Minister, Abdul Kareem al-Luaibi [Elaibi], in Moscow on Wednesday. Alekperov and al-Luaibi also discussed the West Qurna-2 project, and development of infrastructure to ship oil from the field. (Source: Bloomberg)

2 Sub-Contracts Awarded at Badra Oilfield

Two new sub-contracts have been granted for two local companies to participate in developing the Badra oil field in southern Iraq’s Wassit Province, Aswat al-Iraq reports on Thursday. “The Russian Gasbromneft Company [Gazprom Neft], which won the contract to develop [the] Badra oil field, 90 km to the east of Kut ... has decided to […]

New Consulates Planned for Basra

The Russian and German ambassadors to Iraq said on Monday that their countries want to open consulates in Basra in order to develop economic relations with the provincial government. The news was announced following the two ambassadors’ visit to the governor of Basra province, Shiltagh Abboud, yesterday. The German Ambassador to Iraq, George Christian, told […]

Iraq Receives $156m Russian Helicopters

Iraq has received the last two in an order of eight Russian-made multi-purpose helicopters which cost 156 million dollars, the US army has said. The purchase is Iraq’s latest effort to bolster the capacity of its armed forces ahead of a complete withdrawal of US forces by the end of next year, as the US […]

Russian Companies to Build Monorail in Baghdad

A group of Russian companies has been offered the project to build a monorail in Baghdad, according to Aswat al-Iraq. “Baghdad’s Hanging Train [monorail?] project, offered tp Russian companies, is expected to stretch for 25 kms, with a total capacity of 10,000 passengers per hour, through 16 stations, distributed between Baghdad’s two banks of Rusafa […]