MEOG - Middle East Oil & Gas

12 January 2024

Oman re-awards concessions as Tethys makes a discovery

11 January 2024

Muscat has found a taker for two licences that have been on offer for several bid round cycles, while another ambitious explorer has announced drilling success

PetroChina formally takes over at West Qurna-1

11 January 2024

State-owned PetroChina has formally replaced US super-major ExxonMobil as operator of the West Qurna-1 field development project in south-east Iraq, following a November deal with Baghdad.

Oil tanker reportedly diverted towards Iran by armed men near Strait of Hormuz

11 January 2024

An oil tanker caught up in a dispute last year between the United States and Iran was boarded by armed individuals off the coast of Oman and appeared to have changed course towards Iran.

Syrian oil fields under US, Kurdish control see uptick in attacks

11 January 2024

Oilfields in northeastern Syria that are under the control of Kurdish militia and American armed forces have seen a spate of attacks in recent weeks as Israel’s war against the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas rages in Gaza.

Nakilat expands fleet to meet rising demand

11 January 2024

Qatari shipping and maritime company Qatar Gas Transport Company Ltd (Nakilat) has moved to expand its fleet by placing orders for six gas vessels to meet growing demand.

Iraqi court dismisses Jordan case against PM over discounted crude oil sales

11 January 2024

The Supreme Federal Court of Iraq has dismissed a legal case against the country’s Prime Minister, Mohammad Shia al-Sudani, which had called for discounted crude sales to neighbouring Jordan to be halted.

Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan dispute blamed for halt in gas imports to Iran

11 January 2024

Iranian Deputy Oil Minister Majid Chegeni said Iran’s gas imports from Turkmenistan were cut off due to a disagreement between the Central Asian nation and Azerbaijan.

Turkmenistan: Swap stop

10 January 2024

Gas swap deal with Azerbaijan, Iran suspended amid talks. Weaponising unemployment. Arkadag goes to Abu Dhabi. And more in this week's Eurasianet Akhal-Teke Bulletin.

Iranian oil drilling firms going bankrupt over lack of activity, unsettled debts

9 January 2024

Iran’s oil drilling companies are “on the brink of bankruptcy” despite having 114 onshore rigs, the head of the Iranian Drilling Association (IDA) warned.

Iran to develop new petrol refinery amid growing demand

8 January 2024

Iran plans to build a major refinery to boost its fuel production amid growing demand for petrol that is costing the country dearly due to heavy subsidies and smuggling.

Iran’s gas import from Turkmenistan disrupted

8 January 2024

Iran’s gas imports from Turkmenistan have been halted in a blow to the country’s fragile supply that falls in the winter over surging demand.

Iranian commerce chief dismisses crude sales disruption to China

8 January 2024

The head of the Iran-China Joint Chamber of Commerce rejected as “fabrication” a media report that Tehran had withheld oil exports to Beijing, demanding higher prices for the discounted supply from its top client.

Oil prices extended after deadly bombings in Iran rattle markets

7 January 2024

Oil prices climbed further on Thursday, 4 January, amid heightened tension in the Middle East, including twin bomb attacks in southern Iran that killed at least 95 people.

Iranian oil flow to China halted over price row

6 January 2024

Iran’s oil trade with China has stalled as Tehran withholds shipments and demands higher prices from its top customer, refinery and trade sources said.

Russia is denying Iran’s access to its Caspian Sea gas field, says Iranian union chief

4 January 2024

An Iranian trade union boss has accused Russia of blocking Iran’s access to a gas field in the Caspian Sea for extraction.

Iran Heavy down 7.2% amid lowest oil prices in six months

14 December 2023

The price for Iran’s crude plunged in October by 7.2%, an OPEC monthly reported showed, with the oil cartel blaming "exaggerated concerns" about demand for a recent drop in prices.

Fire hits South Khorosan oil refinery

14 December 2023

An uncontrolled fire broke out at the South Khorosan Oil Refinery’s oil reservoirs in the eastern Iranian city of Birjand on December 10, causing two explosions, according to Iranian news sources.

Turkey’s Erdogan says gas, nuclear power co-operation possible with Greece

13 December 2023

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met in Athens this last week after several years of rough exchanges and agreed to take steps to improve their relationship.

Iran’s petroleum industry seeks to go flare-free by mid-2025

13 December 2023

Iran plans to put an end to flaring in its onshore and offshore oil and gas installations nationwide once and for all by August 2025, an environment official said.

Zion Oil & Gas receives approval for recompletion work

13 December 2023

Zion Oil & Gas has received approval from Israel’s Ministry of Energy for the recompletion of its Megiddo-Jezreel #1 well

COP28: vague and voluntary promises

13 December 2023

To say that COP28 in Dubai has been eagerly awaited would be an understatement.

Iraq says fossil fuels will still be needed in green economy

13 December 2023

Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Affairs and Minister of Oil, Hayan Abdulghani, defended the production of fossil fuels in response to recent calls for its reduction and eventual phase-out.

Iranian oil sellers push up prices as Venezuelan crude rallies

13 December 2023

Sellers of sanctioned oil from Iran are hiking offer prices to China after Venezuelan crude rallied following the suspension of US sanctions on the South American producer.