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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.

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.

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.

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.

King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa made 17 new cabinet appointments on 13 June, although most of the more influential government posts were untouched. Mohammed Bin Mubarak Bin Dainah becomes oil and environment minister, while Sheikh Khalid Bin Abdulla Al-Khalifa was named deputy prime minister and infrastructure minister; new tourism minister Fatima Bint Jaafer Al-Sairafi is one of four women in the 25-strong cabinet.

Amid growing concerns that Iran is getting ever closer to a nuclear weapons capability, there are hints that Saudi Arabia and the UAE might be making fresh preparations for their own access to atomic weapons, with Pakistan seen as the key enabler. There are many reasons for them not to move ahead on this track, but that does not necessarily mean plans won’t progress, given distrust of US security guarantees, the perpetual Iranian standoff and the monarchies’ own ambitions to project regional power.

Muscat and Tehran have revived long-discussed plans for a gas pipeline to deliver Iranian gas to Oman. A fresh commitment to the project was made by Iranian petroleum minister Javad Owji during a recent visit to the sultanate.

The Omani government’s decision to roll out a OR130m ($338m) package of benefits to its citizens is the first indication that Gulf governments are starting to loosen their fiscal policies in response to the oil windfall that has come their way this year.