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AFPBAGHDAD (AFP) - Iraq said on Monday it has failed to sign technical support agreements with global oil majors which were aimed at helping boost the war-torn country's oil production.
Iraq is negotiating with Shell, BP, ExxonMobil, Chevron and Total, and a consortium of other smaller oil companies, Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani said at press briefing.
"We did not finalise any agreement with them because they refused to offer consultancy based on fees as they wanted a share of the oil," he said.
"The TSAs (technical support agreements) are only simple consultancy contracts to help us raise the production during the interim period" before the ministry enters into long-term contracts to develop the oil and gas fields.
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Iraqi notice on oil does not include contractsBy SAMEER N. YACOUB – 1 hour ago
BAGHDAD (AP) — The Iraqi government opened six oil fields to international bidding Monday as the nation attempts to boost daily production by 60 percent.
The potential participation of big Western companies like BP, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Shell and Total SA in Iraq's oil industry has been criticized in recent weeks following published reports that several were close to signing no-bid contracts with the Iraqi government.
Those contracts were expected to be announced Monday, but Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani instead named 35 companies that would be qualified to bid on service contracts for the oil fields of Rumeila, Zubair, Qurna West, Maysan, Kirkuk and Bay Hassan.
"These fields were chosen because their production can be raised in a short time and at a low cost," said al-Shahristani.
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http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ifais_syEtJ4gnCt-flME4UylgSwD91KCVU80