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International News Title: U.S. Oil Companies Lose Out in Iraq Oil Auction U.S. Oil Companies Lose Out in Iraq Oil Auction By Carola Hoyos Published: December 13 2009 20:19 | Last updated: December 13 2009 20:19 US oil groups were all but shut out from Iraq as it completed the biggest oil field auction in history. European groups, including Royal Dutch Shell, Lukoil and Gazprom, and Asian groups, such as Chinas CNPC and Malaysias Petronas, were the main winners at Iraqs second oil auction, which completed the sale of its large fields. Thamir Ghadhban, a prime ministerial adviser and former oil minister, said: We havent really seen US companies, and that is because of intense competition . . . The issue is financial and technical and not at all political. This confirms Iraq can manage its oil policy and activities without politicisation. Iraq has auctioned off more proved oil reserves than are held by the US, Mexico and UK combined. Lukoil, Russias biggest private oil company, together with Norways Statoil, on Saturday won the right to develop the West Qurna 2 field, which it had been coveting for more than a decade. Other winners on Saturday included Russias Gazprom and Sonangol, the Angolan state oil company, which was willing to commit to developing fields in one of Iraqs most dangerous regions. On Friday, the first day of the latest auction, Royal Dutch Shell won the right to develop Majnoon, becoming the second UK company to secure one of Iraqs biggest fields. Shell will partner Petronas, which was one of the most active companies in the auction. Also on Friday, CNPC, the Chinese state oil company, plus Total of France and Petronas, won the right to develop Halfaya, another sizable field. In June, BP became the first western oil group to be allowed back into Iraq in more than 30 years, reversing the nationalisation of Iraqs oil industry in 1972. Iraqs cabinet has since ratified the agreement and BP, together with Chinas CNPC, are soon to begin repairing and developing Rumaila, Iraqs biggest oil field. All the other deals still await ratification. In November, ExxonMobil, which won the rights to the West Qurna 1 field development, became the only US company to lead a winning bid, while Californias Occidental is the only US group to have won a deal as a junior partner. Chevron, the USs second biggest oil company, has been absent, even though it had studied Iraqs oil fields closely and was expected to bid. Insiders say the group was hampered by its conservative, risk-averse board. ConocoPhillips, the USs third biggest oil company, which was expected to bid with Lukoil on West Qurna 2, was also absent. Analysts point out that ConocoPhillips is struggling more than its peers financially. Companies have promised within a decade to boost Iraqs oil production by at least 8.5m barrels a day to 11m b/d, more than Saudi Arabia produces.
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#2. To: Ibluafartsky, thor (#0)
So what? It's a "free market" and the "hidden hand" will fix everything. Right? RIGHT? Free traders are such fools.
Have another puff on the bong, scuzzy!
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