Abu Dhabi has awarded the lead contract to develop the emirates complicated Shah sour gas project to Occidental Petroleum Corp. beating out Exxon Mobil Corp. and Royal Dutch Shell.

Electromagnetic Geoservices ASA (EMGS) was awarded an exploration contract in Saudi Arabia, through its agent the Shaoibi Group.

Production levels at Iraqs Rumaila oilfield has exceeded the 10 per cent increase required for oil-giants BP and Chinas CNPC to start recovering development costs.

Abu Dhabi finished construction of a pipeline that runs across the emirate and will transport large quantities of crude from the countrys oilfields directly to the coast.