1. Successful Licensing Round Launches Cyprus Hydrocarbon Push

    ...ccess in the Levant Basin in recent years, including a discovery of 5-8 tcf of natural gas in Cyprus’ Block 12 in December 2011. Asked why it chose not to participate, Noble told MEES in a statement that its decision “is based on a determination to concentrate Noble’s human and financial capital on the ap...

    Volume: 55
    Issue: 21
    Published at Mon, 21 May 2012
  2. Sadara Seeks Funding Amid Saudi Liquidity, International Lender Uncertainty

    ...e approach to ECAs just after the final investment decision was announced on 25 July last year (MEES, 8 August 2011). It was only once meetings were wrapped up with the ECAs – they finished in April – that banks were officially approached. Saudi institutional lenders, the Public Investment Fund (PI...

    Volume: 55
    Issue: 21
    Published at Mon, 21 May 2012
  3. Yemen LNG Pipeline Hit Again As Hadi Steps Up AQAP Offensive

    ...e key pipeline, which to this day has not yet been repaired (MEES, 24 October 2011).   International oil companies (IOCs) meanwhile are remaining very cautious with regard to their short term plans in Yemen, with most admitting a return of foreign staff to the Gulf state is still far off. “Th...

    Volume: 55
    Issue: 21
    Published at Mon, 21 May 2012
  4. Tunisia: Oil Production Slump Exacerbates Budget Shortfall

    ...TUNISIA Tunisia: Oil Production Slump Exacerbates Budget Shortfall   Tunisia, the country that started 2011’s Arab Spring, was much less rocked by violence than neighboring Libya and nearby Egypt. But economic and political turbulence combined with a (largely unrelated) slide in cr...

    Volume: 55
    Issue: 21
    Published at Mon, 21 May 2012
  5. Ankara Assumes Critical Regional Energy Role

    ...ake in the OMV-operated Bina Bawi block for $175mn. Bina Bawi has run into problems on wells since striking oil in 2010. A second well was abandoned in late 2011, while a third found hydrocarbons, but failed to reach target depth. But partners have confidence in the block and are eyeing an, albeit de...

    Volume: 55
    Issue: 21
    Published at Mon, 21 May 2012
  6. Baghdad Kicks Off Production Target Talks

    ...ghdad – the controversial al-Qush and Baeshiqa blocks that lie in disputed territory (MEES, 21 November 2011).   ...

    Volume: 55
    Issue: 20
    Published at Mon, 14 May 2012
  7. Algeria Looks To New Terms To Boost Unconventionals Investment

    ...ree bid rounds conducted since Algeria introduced the current hydrocarbons law (in 2008, 2009 and 2011), with only nine blocks awarded out of 36 on offer (MEES, 21 March 2011).   The changes will have their limits: the rule requiring state firm Sonatrach takes a 51% stake in all contracts will st...

    Volume: 55
    Issue: 20
    Published at Mon, 14 May 2012
  8. Iraq Spearheads OPEC Output Surge

    ...ril 2011 – April 2012 (MEES Estimates – '000 B/D)     2012 2011   Apr Mar Feb Jan Dec No...

    Volume: 55
    Issue: 20
    Published at Mon, 14 May 2012
  9. Security Fears And Regional Tension Overshadow Libyan Progress

    ...Block C-137, which produces al-Jurf crude) and Eni (Melitah Oil’s Block NC-41) earlier said they had returned to offshore exploration.   Meanwhile, Repsol plans to recommence exploration drilling on 1 November as part of what it calls its “2011-2013” exploration campaign on Murzuq Basin Bl...

    Volume: 55
    Issue: 20
    Published at Mon, 14 May 2012
  10. Yemen’s 2012 Budget Raises Social Spending To Offset 2011’s Economic Decline

    ...MEN   Yemen’s 2012 Budget Raises Social Spending To Offset 2011’s Economic Decline   The Yemeni government has unveiled a record budget for 2012 aimed at stimulating the economy, which has shrunk as a result of the political turmoil in the country last year. After the Arab Spring, the political cl...

    Volume: 55
    Issue: 19
    Published at Mon, 07 May 2012
  11. Energy Equities: Petchems Help Saudi Market Post Multi-Year High

    ...st of the company’s plants from 19 January to 9 February. It started commercial operations on 1 October 2011 at its $10bn-plus petrochemical plant and said that the mega-complex, which will produce 4mn tons/year of petrochemical and chemical products, is expected to take time to improve performance an...

    Volume: 55
    Issue: 19
    Published at Mon, 07 May 2012
  12. Kuwait, Oman And Qatar Push Refinery And Condensate Splitter Projects

    ...nance minister what one commentator called “explosive questions” – wanting total revenue income from oil on a yearly basis from 2001 till 2011-12, and financial returns on income from 1992 until 2011-12. Political commentators are guessing at his motives and the government’s answers. Mr Sa'dun had pr...

    Volume: 55
    Issue: 18
    Published at Mon, 30 Apr 2012
  13. Cyprus Targets Role As Regional Energy Center

    ...cused on meeting that 2015 deadline. The 793mw capacity Vasilikos power plant was wrecked by a massive explosion at a nearby military base in July 2011. Since then, the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) has been working to rebuild the facility as a gas-fired plant.   Cyprus Licensing Ro...

    Volume: 55
    Issue: 18
    Published at Mon, 30 Apr 2012
  14. Oil Producers Use Higher Crude Prices For 2012 Budgets

    ...last year, it did not report a 2011 price. Of the remaining five, two countries are leaving prices unchanged – Bahrain produces a budget every two years, and Algeria has stuck resolutely to the $37/B it has used since 2009. However, Algeria officially uses a market price of $90/B for accounting pu...

    Volume: 55
    Issue: 18
    Published at Mon, 30 Apr 2012
  15. Libyan Production Tops 1.55Mn B/D

    ...TAL   1,485 69 1,553 +372 +26 84 1,860   *Includes Total-operated al-Jurf offshore production from Block C-137. **January 2011 production was ar...

    Volume: 55
    Issue: 17
    Published at Mon, 23 Apr 2012
  16. Shahristani Eyes Extended Iraq Production Plateau Durations

    ...perts, realistic) revision to Iraq’s official 7-8mn b/d figure (MEES, 13 June 2011).    Currently foreign operators have committed to maintaining plateau production for between seven and 13 years, with the plateau volumes to be reached by 2017. The critical Round 1 mega-developments – the 2....

    Volume: 55
    Issue: 17
    Published at Mon, 23 Apr 2012
  17. Abu Dhabi Burns More Crude And Gasoil To Meet Power Challenge

    ...UAE MEES Agenda   Abu Dhabi Burns More Crude And Gasoil To Meet Power Challenge   In 2010 Abu Dhabi, facing its growing gas squeeze, burned 3.21mn barrels of crude and 2.74mn barrels of gasoil in power stations. The amount is expected to have increased in 2011 – when peak po...

    Volume: 55
    Issue: 17
    Published at Mon, 23 Apr 2012
  18. Arab Fund Chief Pledges Continued Support In Wake Of Arab Spring

    ...velopment banks. At its launch during the French presidency of the G8 in May 2011, the Arab Fund agreed to provide $3.2bn in grants and concessionary loans to finance public and private sector projects in Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco and Jordan in 2012-13.   Arab countries in transition need to correct sh...

    Volume: 55
    Issue: 16
    Published at Mon, 16 Apr 2012
  19. Libya And US Investigate Qadhafi-Era Oil Deals

    ...at some oil contracts “seem to have been influenced by Saif al-Islam al-Qadhafi,” referring to the former dictator’s son who is currently imprisoned awaiting trial.   Eni, in its 2011 annual report (released 5 April) reveals that on 10 June 2011 it received a subpoena from the SEC for the “pr...

    Volume: 55
    Issue: 16
    Published at Mon, 16 Apr 2012
  20. Oman Relies On PDO And BP To Meet Gas Challenge

    ...d Water Procurement Company (OPWPC) in its Seven Year Outlook published on 31 March said total peak gas demand for the main national power network will grow from 580mn cfd in 2011 to 793mn cfd in 2018. A further 78mn cfd will be needed in the city of Salalah.   US independent Oxy’s demand fo...

    Volume: 55
    Issue: 16
    Published at Mon, 16 Apr 2012