Russia's Lukoil, Shell eye ExxonMobil's West Qurna 1

摘要

Moscow-Russia's Lukoil and Shell are looking to buy ExxonMobil's 60% stake in the giant West Qurna 1 oil field in Iraq, unnamed sources were quoted as saying in Russian media November 30, with a deal possibly being concluded by the end of this year. A deal, analysts believe, would enable ExxonMobil to withdraw from West Qurna 1 to focus on its newly acquired exploration blocks in the northern Iraqi region of Kurdistan. For Lukoil and Shell, it would give the companies prime producing acreage in Iraq where they are both already present: Lukoil at the neighboring West Qurna 2 project and Shell in West Qurna 1.