Russia’s LUKoil inks oil search deal with IraqJuly 17, 2012 - 19:09 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - the right to explore the field, 120 kilometers west of Basra, in late May. LUKoil holds 60 percent of the field and Japan's INPEX owns 40 percent. Under the terms of the Iraqi government tender, minimum outlays on geological prospecting for the field should be no less than $100 million. If promising oil reserves are found, investment could reach $300 million. Block 10 covers an area of 5,500 square kilometers in the oil-rich region, where international oil majors are developing giant oil fields, including Rumaila, West Qurna-1, and the West Qurna-2 fields. LUKoil foreign projects head Andrei Kuzyayev said in June that Block 10 was one of the most attractive, as discovery of large oil reserves there was highly probable. LUKoil is also developing Iraq's giant West Qurna-2 field, one of the world's largest oilfields, with recoverable reserves estimated at 12.9 billion barrels of oil. LUKoil says it plans to launch production at West Qurna-2 in early 2014. LUKoil participated in the first stage of West Qurna-1 development project and signed a contract with the former Saddam Hussein regime to develop the second stage, but the deal was frozen in 2002. The Iraqi government and LUKoil agreed in 2008 to renew cooperation. The list of Russian energy firms operating in Iraq also includes Gazprom Neft, the oil arm of Russian energy giant Gazprom, which operates the Badra deposit with a 30-percent stake in the project. Badra's reserves are estimated at about three billion barrels of oil. Production is scheduled to start in 2013. Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | European Parliament to discuss repression in Azerbaijan The European Parliament will discuss repression of civil society in Azerbaijan on April 24 PACE wants concessions from Azerbaijan to accept Baku back A PACE co-rapporteur said that Azerbaijani authorities must make certain concessions so that the country can return to PACE. Cyprus parliament honors Armenian genocide victims Acting House President Zacharias Koulias noted that April 24 marks the “black anniversary” of the Armenian genocide. Armenia PM, France envoy discuss regional matters Issues related to the consistent development of Armenia-France cooperation were discussed. |