Jordan is pushing ahead with a scheme to supply up to 14 per cent of its energy needs from oil shale as the country is looking at ways to not be so reliant on imports of oil and gas from Gulf countries.

The newly appointed Iraq oil minister, Abdul Karim al-Luaibi, announced in December 2010 that the country's oil output had risen to 2.6 mn bdp from just under 2.4 mn as a result of a production increase from the giant Zubair and Rumaila oilfields.

Leading global oilfield service company Expro has been awarded a multi-disciplinary contract in Algeria, by Petroceltic International plc.

Halliburton has been awarded a wellwork integrated services contract by ExxonMobil Iraq Ltd. for refurbishment of wells in the West Qurna (Phase 1) field in southern Iraq.

KCA Deutag, the international drilling and engineering contractor, recently announced that it has commenced operations in Iraq, with the deployment of one rig in the north of the country and a second being mobilized shortly.