By John Lee. The Iraqi Minister of Oil, Hayan Abdul-Ghani, has said that Iraq wants to increase production capacity of the giant Rumaila oilfield by 300,000 barrels per day (bpd). This would give it a potential output of 1.7 million bpd. He made the statement during his visit to to the field earlier this week, […]
Tag Archives | South Oil Company (SOC)
Profile of Iraq's New Oil Minister
By John Lee. Iraq's Ministry of Oil has issued the following profile of the new Oil Minister, Hayan Abdul-Ghani Abdul-Zahra Al-Swad [Hayyan Abdul Ghani; Hayan Abdulghani]: Date and Place of Birth: Basra, 1958 Academic Qualifications: BSC Mechanical Engineering/ University of Basra MSC Mechanical Engineering / University of Basra Career and Positions: The Minister has a […]
Analysis: Ending the ExxonMobil Presence at West Qurna 1
By Ahmed Mousa Jiyad. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Ending ExxonMobil Presence in WQ1 Oilfield Legal-Contractual Discussion with Economic-Financial Analysis Information indicates that the Iraqi Ministry of Oil (MoO) proposed to acquire (buy) ExxonMobil's participation interest (PI) in the West Qurna […]
Fourth Oil Exec Jailed for Iraq Bribery
Paul Bond has today been sentenced to three and half years' imprisonment for conspiring with others to bribe Iraqi public officials to secure lucrative oil contracts in post-occupation Iraq. Earlier this week, Bond, a former senior sales manager at SBM Offshore (SBM), was found guilty on two counts of conspiracy to give corrupt payments following […]
Fmr Australian Exec Arrested over Alleged Iraq Bribery
By John Lee. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has made one arrest, and issued a further two arrest warrants, following an investigation into alleged improper payments made by Singapore-registered Leighton Offshore Pty Ltd, regarding two contracts with Iraq Crude Oil Export in 2010 and 2011. The Sydney Morning Herald names the arrested suspect as Russell […]
Second former Unaoil Executive Sentenced for Bribery
Second former Unaoil executive sentenced for bribery in post-occupation Iraq Stephen Whiteley, Unaoil's former territory manager for Iraq, has today become the second Unaoil executive to be sentenced for paying over $500,000 in bribes to secure a $55m contract to supply offshore mooring buoys. He was sentenced by HHJ Beddoe to 3 years' imprisonment. This […]
Iraq Corruption Case: Former Oil Execs Convicted
By John Lee. The UK's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has secured convictions against two former oil executives who conspired to give corrupt payments to secure contracts in Iraq. A jury at Southwark Crown Court found Ziad Akle guilty on two counts and Stephen Whiteley guilty on one count of conspiracy to give corrupt payments. [Update […]
Zubair Oil Production hits 500k bpd
By John Lee. Zubair oilfield has reportedly reached a production level of 500,000 barrels of crude oil per day (bpd). According to Business Korea, Kogas made the announcement on Thursday, adding that its "second-stage goal" is 700,000 bpd. The project is being developed by Eni (32.81%), Kogas (18.75%), Maysan Oil Company (25%), and South Oil […]
TechnipFMC Fined for Iraq Bribes
By John Lee. Oil services firm TechnipFMC (TFMC) has agreed to pay $296 million to resolve allegations that the company paid bribes in Brazil and Iraq. TFMC is the product of a 2017 merger between two predecessor companies, Technip S.A. and FMC Technologies, Inc.. The admissions and court documents establish that beginning by at least […]
Basrah Gas Company to Increase Capacity by 40%
By John Lee. Shell has reportedly announced that the Basrah Gas Company (BGC) has taken a "final investment decision (FID)" on its growth programme, which will increase BGC’s capacity by 40 percent. According to Oil and Gas Middle East, the decision was taken with the support of all BGC's shareholders: South Gas Company (SOC), Shell […]
Floating Oil Island for Iraq's Expected Spurt in Exports
By Adnan Abu Zeed for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Floating Oil Island will handle Iraq's expected Spurt in Exports The South Oil Co. (SOC) [possibly should be Basrah Oil Company (BOC), as per comment below, - Editor] […]
Lukoil signs Contract for Exploration at Block 10
Russia's Lukoil has signed contracts with the state-owned Iraqi Oil Exploration Company to carry out seismic surveys at the Eridu field in Block 10, and also at Block 10's southern and central parts, previously not part of the survey. The scope of appraisal works at Eridu field includes a 3D seismic survey of 983 square kilometers to […]