December 02, 2008

Iraq qualifies 35 firms for oil exploration

It is reported that Iraq’s oil ministry has approved a list of 35 global oil majors qualified for bidding in soon to be announced tenders to develop oil and gas fields.

As per report, 120 companies had submitted documents between January 9th 2008 and February 18th 2008 to participate in the licensing round.

The qualifying companies, in alphabetical order by country, are as follows

1) Australia: BHP Billiton, Woodside
2) Britain: BG International, BP, Premier
3) Canada: Nexen
4) China: CNOOC, CNPC, Sinochem, Sinopec
5) Denmark: Maersk
6) France: Total
7) Germany: Wintershall BASF Group
8) India: ONGC
9) Indonesia: Pertamina
10) Italy: Edison, ENI
11) Japan: Inpex, Japex, Mitsubishi Corp, Nippon Oil Corporation
12) Malaysia: Petronas
13) Netherlands: Shell
14) Norway: StatoilHydro
15) Russia: Gazprom, Lukoil
16) South Korea: Kogas
17) Spain: Repsol
18) United States: Anadarko, Chevron, Conoco Phillips, ExxonMobil, Hess Corp, Marathon, Occidental Petroleum

It is planning to soon open at least 6 major oil and natural gas fields for exploration and production in the first bidding for licenses since the US led invasion in 2003.