SURPRISE! Iraq Awards West Qurna-1 Oil Field to Exxon, Shell

[Better Believe It]

Iraq Awards West Qurna-1 Oil Field to Exxon, Shell
By GINA CHON
November 5, 2009


BAGHDAD -- The Iraqi Oil Ministry said Thursday it awarded a consortium led by Exxon Mobil Corp. and Royal Dutch Shell PLC the right to develop the West Qurna-1 field in southern Iraq, representing the first American-led team gaining access to Iraq's oil patch.

The pact is the latest in a series of deals that Iraq has signed or initialed with some of the world's biggest oil companies. Earlier this week, Iraqi officials completed a final agreement with BP PLC and China National Petroleum Corp. and an initial agreement with a consortium led by Italy's Eni SpA. U.S. oil company Occidental Petroleum Corp. participated as a junior partner in the Eni-led bid.

For Exxon and Shell, two of the largest publicly listed oil companies, the deal grants entry into a country that boasts one of the world's largest reserves of petroleum. Like most of the oil-rich Middle East, the country has long been off limits to Western firms.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125741092983330293.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLTopStories

[underseasurveyor]

1. Wooh, who could have ever seen that coming.

Boy that sure came out of right field. A total surprise:eyes:

fucking bastards all of em

[JimWis]

2. You got that right.

[underseasurveyor]

4. Especially since this war was *never* about oil... n/t

:banghead:

[SoCalDem]

3. And so the seeds of a future rebellion are planted

People take real offense at outsiders coming in and running/owning/operating/supervising the extraction of their natural resources.

There are 7 yr old boys there now, who have known nothing but war, their whole lives, and who will become angry teens and young men.. they will see their country's wealth being sucked out of the ground, loaded up, and shipped elsewhere, and they will rise up again...and can we blame them?

[HysteryDiagnosis]

7. We should invade Alaska, take over their oil stuff, reap huge

profits that we swiftly ship out of state and see if they throw flowers at us all.

[earth mom]

5. Blood for Oil...no surprise. nt

[HysteryDiagnosis]

6. People were purchased. Sad. n/t

[Mari333]

8. yep thats what thousands of soldiers and millions of Iraqs died for

a bunch of fatass CEOs and their profits.

[taterguy]

10. They died for our transportation choices

How did you get to work today?

[Mari333]

11. Im retired.

I also dont drive if I dont have to.
when was the last time you chose to call your representative and demand they pursue alternative energy sources?
I can play that game too.
In the meantime, how much polyethylene do you have in your house?

[taterguy]

12. So how did you get to work before you retired?

And what makes you think that representatives respond to "demands" from individuals?

[Hutzpa]

9. Why is this news? n/t