Search results

Qatar’s recent deals to bring five majors – Shell, TotalEnergies, ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips and Eni – into the $29bn North Field East (NFE) project underline Doha’s ambitions for its liquified natural gas (LNG) sector and Emir Sheikh Tamim’s political priorities, as QatarEnergy’s sales are redirected towards Europe.

Western oil majors have been pulling out of the Russian gas industry, but that presents opportunities for the likes of Saudi Aramco who are less concerned about the reputational impact of investing in Siberian resources.

Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) secretary-general Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo fell victim to a heart attack in his native Nigeria on 5 July, shortly before he was due to leave the post he had held with some skill and grace for six years. Veteran Kuwait Petroleum Corporation and government official Haitham Al-Ghais is scheduled take over as secretary-general in Vienna on 1 August.

The start of construction at the Dabaa nuclear power plant is both a major step forward for President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s ambition to lead Egypt into the elite grouping of nuclear nations and a rejection of Russia’s pariah status among western nations. But the start of work at El Dabaa is also a significant advance in Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS)’s aim of shaping the development of a nuclear Middle East, with the ultimate goal of ensuring that Arab states can confront Iran on an equal footing without having to rely on the United States.

GSN Risk Grade: B↑1. Methane emissions. QatarEnergy joined the Aiming for Zero Methane Emissions Initiative on 27 June, adding its weight to the aim of reaching near-zero methane emissions from operated oil and gas assets by 2030. It

Dana Gas has suspended a project to expand output at the Khor Mor gas field, following a series of rocket attacks in Iraq.

Iraq's state-owned Basra Oil Company (BOC) will acquire the biggest share in ExxonMobil's stake in the West Qurna 1 oilfield. Others involved in the field include PetroChina, Japan's Itochu, Indonesia's Pertamina and Iraq's Oil Exploration Company.

Oman's energy and minerals minister Mohammed Bin Hamad Al-Rumhi has retired from the job he held since December 1997, as part of a mini-reshuffle of the cabinet. There also have been some changes to governor positions.

QatarEnergy’s selection of TotalEnergies as its first partner on the expansion of the North Field comes amid an intense period of upstream and midstream activity, with the region’s hydrocarbons heavyweights investing billions to ensure they remain world leaders in oil and gas production for decades to come.

GSN Risk Grade – B↓2. Offshore platform in once disputed waters: Kuwait appears to have completed a controversial offshore platform, which could reawaken a maritime border dispute with Iraq.

GSN Risk Grade - B3. Hydrogen developments: The government is among those that have seen an opportunity to be an early mover in the potentially huge global hydrogen economy.

Russian oil companies – under pressure from international sanctions due to the Ukraine war – are reportedly exploring the idea of setting up oil trading divisions in Dubai.

A senior Vitol Group executive said the United States might turn a blind eye to increased Iranian oil sales – even if a new nuclear deals fails to emerge – in a bid to lower crude prices.

With tenders for major field developments and more drilling rigs being brought into service, Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Aramco) and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) are confirming their intention to increase their influence over global oil markets.

Oman's energy and minerals minister Mohammed Bin Hamad Al-Rumhi has said Oman’s oil production is likely to increase by 5-10% over the next three years, with new discoveries outpacing production.