Shell Wins Rights to Iraqs Giant Monjoon Oil Field

[xiamiam]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/11/shell-wins-rights-to-iraq_n_388355.html



BAGHDAD — Iraq's hope of luring international oil companies with its mother lode of oil met with mixed results Friday, with only two deals struck as security fears appeared to weigh heavily on the country's second oil auction this year.

Of the eight fields on offer in Friday's bidding, only those located in the relatively stable southern region of Iraq attracted heavy interest, while five located in more restive regions were withdrawn and a sixth field drew only one bid. In all, 15 fields are being offered in the two-day round, covering roughly a third of Iraq's 115 billion in proven reserves of crude.

The lackluster showing – coming months after Iraq's largely dismal first oil licensing round – offered a sobering message to Iraq despite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's attempt to strike an upbeat tone at the start of the auction held at the heavily fortified oil ministry.

more at link

[Subdivisions]

1. Hence the reason we're there in the first place. n/t

[pampango]

5. So that a Dutch company can work an Iraqi oil field? Do we at least get a commission on the deal?n/t

[ixion]

2. Mission Accomplished!

:sarcasm:

[SoCalDem]

3. When we "leave",and the real civil war cranks up to mach-2

Sunni/Shia....whomever "wins" will have a LOT to say about who controls their one asset..oil..

The countries of the middle east have seen this show before.. We were summarily kicked out in the 50's & 60's because the countries involved wanted to control their own assets....and they'll do it again..

Anyone remember who pissy Americans got when they feared that Japan was "buying up America", and then again when Bush was trying to sell the ports to Dubai?

Why should another country not want to control its assets too:)

[liberal N proud]

4. Mission accomplished indeed, At what cost...

Purchased with the blood of our brothers and sisters


Too many families!

[hunter]

6. Well, that doesn't make me optimistic about the amount of oil they can suck out of there.

Shell does have a history of inflating their "reserves" to buoy up their share prices.

It's spelled Majnoon btw, and the estimated reserves for it are all over the place.

It seems to me U.S. claims of almost 13 billion barrels are inflated.

[Nikki Stone1]

7. So many working class Americans died so Shell could have oil: Ain't globalism grand?

There is one elite transnational and they'll use cannon fodder from anywhere.

[Shagbark Hickory]

8. Shell should assume financial responsibility for the war now.

Let them pay for it. Let them provide the soldiers.

Quite possibly the only thing you'll ever hear me say should be privatized.

[marmar]

9. Operation Iraqi Liberation......freeing Iraq from the burden of that oil.

Quelle surprise.

[montanto]

10. Mission Accomplished