BP to pay for Dana in Egypt

DUBAI: The UAE’s Dana Gas has signed an agreement for BP to pay for part of its exploration costs in the El Matriya onshore concession area in Egypt, the UAE firm said. BP will pay for up to $39 million of the cost of Dana’s drilling of a first natural gas exploration well. The concession was awarded to the two companies through international bidding in 2014.

Egypt, Eni sign $2bn deal

CAIRO: Egypt’s oil ministry said it had signed an energy exploration deal with Italy’s Eni worth $2 billion following an MOU signed in March during an investment conference. The deal paves the way for the modification of some previous deals between the ministry and Eni that include gas price adjustments, the ministry said in a statement. Eni will be able to explore in Sinai, the Gulf of Suez, the Mediterranean and areas in the Nile Delta.

El Feel field still closed

BENGHAZI: Libya’s western El Feel oilfield is still closed due to a strike by security guards over salary payments, a field engineer said. The field is co-run by state oil firm NOC and Italy’s Eni. The strike has been on for several weeks.

Iraq exports first shipment

BAGHDAD: Iraq exported its first shipment of heavy crude, officials in the state-run South Oil Company and shipping sources said. Two million barrels of oil were being loaded onto the Olympic Lion in the southern port of Basra, they said.

Oil leak discovered: KNPC

DUBAI: Kuwaiti National Petroleum Company (KNPC) announced that a leak had been discovered in a water treatment unit tank at its Mina Abdullah refinery, the state news agency reported.

The agency said workers had activated plans to control the leak and sought the help of specialised companies. The boats were also used to contain the leak in a small area and efforts are under way to treat the affected area, it said.

Aramco plans 250 rigs

Al KHOBAR: Saudi Aramco may raise the number of its oil and gas drilling rigs to as high as 250 next year if oil prices continue to firm and as domestic demand for gas increases, industry sources said. Currently the national energy giant has 212 rigs of both types in operation and that could rise to between 220 and 250 if conditions permit, sources familiar with the plans said. “It all depends on the oil price of course,” said one.

Ship docks at Ras Lanuf

BENGHAZI: A ship importing cement has docked at Libya’s Ras Lanuf port but the oil export terminal will stay shut, a port official said. State oil firm NOC declared force majeure, a contractual waiver for Ras Lanuf and the neighbouring Es Sider oil port, in December when fighting between forces allied to Libya’s two governments erupted in the area.