Seven U.S. Firms Among Buyers of South Pars Data
December 12, 2000 - 0:0
LONDON -- No less than seven U.S. firms are among 23 bidding groups buying data as part of the tendering process to develop phases 9 and 10 and phases 11 and 12 of South Pars gas field, according to Middle East Economic Survey (MEES).
Although there was said to be a reluctance among international companies to name the U.S. participants, the Cyprus-based newsletter, quoting one source, said it was "more a question of who isn't on the list." Earlier press reports have identified Chevron as one of the U.S.
companies buying data under the tender for the projects, earmarked to supply gas to Iran's domestic grid and a proposed LNG export scheme at Assaluyeh.
MEES quoted a Chevron official confirming that the U.S.
company had purchased the two data packages for internal study, but insisting that it had acted within the constraints of American sanctions against Iran.
The companies risk being investigated about any dealings with Iran by the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, which is reported to have already sent a list of questions to Conoco over its study of seismic data from Iran's Azadegan field.
U.S. oil companies have constantly protested against the sanctions against Iran as being self-defeating. Several have complained that they were being put at a disadvantage against European rivals, who have signed buyback contracts with Iran.
MEES suggested that the U.S. firms buying South Pars data may have been advised by their legal departments that it was within their rights under current U.S. legislation providing no intention was made in bidding for the projects.
(IRNA)
Although there was said to be a reluctance among international companies to name the U.S. participants, the Cyprus-based newsletter, quoting one source, said it was "more a question of who isn't on the list." Earlier press reports have identified Chevron as one of the U.S.
companies buying data under the tender for the projects, earmarked to supply gas to Iran's domestic grid and a proposed LNG export scheme at Assaluyeh.
MEES quoted a Chevron official confirming that the U.S.
company had purchased the two data packages for internal study, but insisting that it had acted within the constraints of American sanctions against Iran.
The companies risk being investigated about any dealings with Iran by the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, which is reported to have already sent a list of questions to Conoco over its study of seismic data from Iran's Azadegan field.
U.S. oil companies have constantly protested against the sanctions against Iran as being self-defeating. Several have complained that they were being put at a disadvantage against European rivals, who have signed buyback contracts with Iran.
MEES suggested that the U.S. firms buying South Pars data may have been advised by their legal departments that it was within their rights under current U.S. legislation providing no intention was made in bidding for the projects.
(IRNA)