Big Oil Deals Absent as Iraq Opens for Bids

No announcement of criticized contracts for Western companies

By Sam Gale Rosen, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 30, 2008 11:13 AM CDT

(Newser) – The Iraqi government opened six oil fields to bidding today, without mention of expected no-bid contracts with big Western oil companies, the AP notes; it had been reported that several big companies were close to signing short-term deals with Iraq's government. "There is no preferential treatment for anyone, no matter who," a spokesman said.

"There was never any intention to award the contracts without a tender," he added. The New York Times had reported that Royal Dutch Shell, BP, Exxon Mobil, Chevron, and Total SA were all close to signing deals with Iraq, as a way to boost production in the short term before the country agreed on a national oil law.

A refinery worker controls a valve on a pipeline at an oil refinery in Basra, 550 kilometers (340 miles) southeast of Baghdad, Iraq, in this photo taken March 2007. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Iraq's Oil Minister, Hussain al-Shahristani, gestures as he speaks at a press conference in Baghdad earlier today. (AP Photo)

Refinery workers repair an installation at an oil refinery in Basra, 550 kilometers (340 miles) southeast of Baghdad, Iraq, in this photo taken March 2007. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

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Big Oil Deals Absent as Iraq Opens for Bids

No announcement of criticized contracts for Western companies

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Iraq Dumps Western Oil Deals

Plans scrubbed as talks drag on too long

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Companies booted by Saddam win contracts to service Iraqi oil fields

Big Oil Shut Out Of Iraq Deals

First new oil contracts go to China, India—even Vietnam and Indonesia

Oil Giants Bend to Iraq's Terms

War for oil hasn't been too lucrative for American companies

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Company expects to get 700M barrels

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No announcement of criticized contracts for Western companies

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Iraq • Iraq oil • Chevron • BP • Royal Dutch Shell • Exxon Mobil • Total SA

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Iraq Dumps Western Oil Deals

Plans scrubbed as talks drag on too long

Oil Giants to Return to Iraq

Companies booted by Saddam win contracts to service Iraqi oil fields

Big Oil Shut Out Of Iraq Deals

First new oil contracts go to China, India—even Vietnam and Indonesia

Oil Giants Bend to Iraq's Terms

War for oil hasn't been too lucrative for American companies

Exxon Discovers Huge Oil Field in the Gulf

Company expects to get 700M barrels

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