http://www.gulfkeystone.com/ The firms exploration programme in Algeria is going well and "the shares look good value", say the Investors Chronicle. Your comments please. goal.

What a great day's trading for GKP,just half a day and almost 3.5m? The 2 final trades of 20k &60k at 188p or more seem to say it all,stake building. Just 3 trading days left so will release Behme-1 results as indicated and if they're as good as thought,what will the SP
be?

ecember 25, 2011

ERBIL-Hewlêr, Kurdistan region 'Iraq', — Kurdistan Regional Government President Massoud Barzani is wrapping up the last phase of establishing an independent Kurdish state, according to an inside source from Sare Rash, Barzani's palace complex.

In a telephone conversation with U.S. President Obama, Barzani maintained that should the political process fails in Baghdad, his administration would instantaneously proclaim an independent Kurdish state.

President Barzani relayed the message to his Turkish counterparts through Turkish consulate in Erbil.

On December 23, 2011, a special delegation made up of senior Turkish military and intelligence officers landed in Sare Rash to hold talks with President Barzani in this regard. Further cooperation in field of energy was also discussed in this secret meeting.

Emerging oil and gas frontiers attract attention

9:00 am by Jamie Ashcroft

The pace that the Kurdistan oil play has advanced in 2011 is an example of the excitement that can be created by new and emerging oil frontiers The pace that the Kurdistan oil play has advanced in 2011 is an example of the excitement that can be created by new and emerging oil frontiers.

The semi-autonomous region of northern Iraq is one of the world’s last great oil frontiers, according to former BP boss Tony Hayward.

This widely cited comment was made amid the summer’s frenzied land grab in Kurdistan when in a few short weeks most of the region’s prospective land was snapped up by mid-tier oil companies.

The period also saw Vallares, then a £2 billion vehicle for Hayward and City financier Nat Rothschild, merge with Turkish firm Genel, one of the leading players in Kurdistan. Afren (LON:AFR) and Petroceltic (LON:PCI) also inked deals in the region.

In fact, barely a week goes by without further deals being agreed. So far the majors are yet to show their hands, though there are reports, still not confirmed, that ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) is ready to plant its flag in Kurdistan.

The experience of Gulf Keystone Petroleum (LON:GKP) is an interesting case study of how success with the drill bit in a newly emerging sphere of interest can utterly transform a company’s fortunes.

Borrowing parlance used by gold prospectors of old, GKP has hit the mother lode with its Shaikan discovery in Kurdistan, which is estimated to contain between 8 and 13.4 billion barrels of oil

Prior to striking first oil in August 2009, shares in the explorer were changing hands at just 13p. Now, nearly two years on, they are worth just under 200p a share, which values the company at £1.6 billion.

It is a vivid illustration of what can happen to a junior explorer when it strikes big in an up-and-coming oil frontier.

http://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/37295/emerging-oil-and-gas-frontiers-attract-attention-37295.html

China ready to bid in Kurdistan?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16336453

Kurdistan: Gulf Keystone’s $1 Billion Baby

By Brian O'Connell


December 27, 2011




Buyout rumors boost stock prices for Gulf Keystone as interest in reserves in Kurdistan in northern Iraq peaks.

Christmas came early for Gulf Keystone Petroleum shareholders this holiday season, as the oil company announced a Kurdistan oil find valued at $1 billion.

What’s better is this -- the company’s market cap is significantly lower than its competitors, leaving a nice window of opportunity for quick-minded investors.

As always, there are some caveats. Gulf Keystone Petroleum Ltd. (GKP) is a high-priced, high-premium investment. Its stock price is trading at about $189 per share this week, but there’s a lot of volatility in that number. Over the past 52 weeks, the company’s stock price has fluctuated between $87 and $225 per share.

But since hitting it big in the oil fields of Kurdistan, and thanks to some well-placed rumors of a buyout, Gulf Keystone's stock has been on a steady upward trend -- from $120 in October to almost $200 per share in December. The stock really took off in early November, rising from $130 per share to $190 per share in the first two weeks of the month, largely due to heightened rumors of a block sale of one of its drilling sites in Kurdistan (Arki-Bijeel).

That block, which analysts say holds 2.4 billion barrels of oil, was the subject of substantial buzz in oil trading circles in November.

"We've got a lot of interested parties, but we have not identified a purchaser," Gulf Keystone chief executive officer Todd Kozel told Reuters on Nov. 13. "We haven't gone to the bidding process yet. It's in the data room process, data gathering and identifying interest.

"Kurdistan is the hottest play in town in the oil business," Kozel said, adding that the region is Iraq’s most stable area, a further enticement for skittish investors.

But rumors of an outright sale -- ExxonMobil was a favorite target among investors -- is just that -- a rumor. "Gulf Keystone is not for sale," Kozel added. "We have not been approached by any company making an offer."

Gulf Keystone’s $1 Billion Baby

Gulf Keystone’s Kurdistan oil fields are valued at $1 billion by energy analysts. Here is a breakdown of what the oil giant owns -- and where: Shaikan, 51%; Sheikh Adi, 80%; Ber Bahr, 40%; and Akri-Bijeel, 13%.

The Shaikan site is especially lucrative, with an estimated eight-to-13 billion barrels of oil in the ground. Not all of that oil is easily recoverable, though. Independent analysts say 20% to 35% are easily recoverable.

Last March, Gulf Keystone discovered a huge oil field at the Shaikan-2 well, and reported more oil discoveries were likely.

Figuring Out GKP

So how does Kurdistan play into Gulf Keystone’s stock price, and how should investors approach a GKP position in their portfolio?

The strategy starts with information gathering, and a good place to start is with Gulf Keystone’s market capitalization picture. Overall, the market cap stands at about $2 billion, but various analyst reports out recently say that ExxonMobil, in vetting GKP’s financial assets, say the market cap number should be much larger, maybe even up to $7 billion.

Devon Shire, an anagram for an oil analyst who contributes to the financial web site Seeking Alpha, said the GKP market capitalization picture rests in large part on that multi-billion dollar oil field in northern Iraq.

Citing the rumor that Exxon is ready to pull the trigger on a Gulf Keystone buyout, Shire pulls out his calculator and works the numbers. What he finds is certainly attractive to potential buyers of GKP stock.

Here is what he has to say about GKP: “Independent reservoir engineering firms have estimated that Shaikan’s oil in place is 8 billion to 13 billion barrels. GKP owns 51% of this, so if we take the middle of that range it means that GKP controls 50% of 10.5 billion barrels (5.25 billion) in the Shaikan field.

“I’ve read a few analyst reports on GKP and the general consensus is that 20% to 35% of this oil can be recovered. I'll take the middle of that range and assume that 27.5% of GKP’s 5.25 billion barrels of oil in place can be recovered. That would equal 27.5% x 5.25 billion = 1.44 billion barrels.

“The market capitalization of GKP in dollars is just over 2.0 billion. That means that at the current share price, investors are paying just over $1 per barrel of recoverable oil,” Shire continued.

Shire notes that the Shaikan field is low-hanging fruit for Gulf Keystone, and light years away from the well-documented difficulties oil companies have in pulling oil from several miles under the ocean.

“Lifting costs are estimated by GKP management to be somewhere around $3 per barrel. Do you think an oil company could make some money with this oil field and oil prices around $100?” Shire asked.

Maybe that’s why the Wall Street buzz has ExxonMobil offering $11 billion for GKP. For the record, both ExxonMobil and Gulf Keystone maintain there is nothing to the rumors of a buyout.

But the rumors alone were enough to drive up Gulf Keystone’s stock price 25% on Dec. 19, after a story appeared in the U.K.-based Independent that a deal was in the offing the day before.

While there’s no guarantee that ExxonMobil, or any other major oil company, will make an offer on Gulf Keystone, there is a guarantee that GKP is onto something big with its Kurdistan find.

Investors have already taken notice. And with room for growth, expect more buying activity on GKP.

leesbillbob - 27 Dec'11 - 21:40 - 143086 of 143086

Iraq’s PM increases his grip on power in push that raises Shiite-Sunni tensions
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By Associated Press, Updated: Tuesday, December 27, 2:17 PM

BAGHDAD — In the week since the last American troops left Iraq, Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki ordered an arrest warrant for the country’s highest-ranking Sunni official, threatened to exclude the rival sect’s main political party from his government and warned that “rivers of blood” would flow if Sunnis seek an autonomous region.

The moves confirmed what many longtime observers of Iraqi politics have suspected since al-Maliki came to office more than five years ago — that he has an authoritarian streak and beneath his tireless rhetoric about national unity is essentially a sectarian politician.

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(Carolyn Kaster, File/Associated Press) - FILE - In this Monday, Dec. 12, 2011 file photo, Iraq’s Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki gestures during his news conference with President Barack Obama in the South Court Auditorium on the White House complex in Washington. In the week since the last American troops left Iraq, Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki ordered an arrest warrant for the country’s highest-ranking Sunni official, threatened to exclude the rival sect from his government and warned that “rivers of blood” would flow if Sunnis seek an autonomous region. The moves confirmed what many long-time observers of Iraqi politics have suspected since al-Maliki came to office more than five years ago _ that he has an authoritarian streak and beneath his tireless rhetoric about national unity is essentially a sectarian politician.

As a result, the veneer of sectarian unity that the United States tried to paint over Iraq’s leadership throughout a 9-year presence is quickly being washed away after the departure of American forces.

The first casualty could be the unity government that al-Maliki heads, uneasily combining his powerful Shiite alliance with a Sunni-backed bloc. It took nine months after Iraq’s elections in March last year to put it together, under heavy American pressure to include the Sunnis, but al-Maliki never liked it and is increasingly saying he wants a government based on the majority in parliament, which would squeeze out Sunnis.

And al-Maliki has made clear he intends keep a strong grip heading that government.

“I have been working here for six years and I will be here for another six,” al-Maliki told a news conference last week.

He has been accruing power since rising to his post in 2006 in a process that has accelerated since the new government was formed a year ago. He effectively runs the Defense and Interior Ministries and has created a separate security force that answers to him alone. He has bypassed parliament to install Shiite allies in key positions, and he has used his control over state funds and resources to gain leverage with the judiciary and oversight agencies like the anti-graft Integrity Commission.

The one risk al-Maliki runs is that he will disillusion Shiite parties making up the bulk of his government, some of which are longtime political rivals. On Monday, a lawmaker in the powerful party of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr floated the idea of holding new elections to resolve the political turmoil. Bahaa al-Aaraji quickly backed off the idea, saying it was just his personal opinion, but his comment underlined how Shiite rivals could turn on the prime minister.

Nevertheless, for the moment, Shiite parties are strongly backing al-Maliki, unified by their common fear that Sunnis want to take back power that their minority community lost with the 2003 fall of Saddam Hussein’s Sunni-dominated regime.

Last week, the Shiite bloc issued a statement saying rulings of the judiciary must be adhered to, language that was seen as a show of support for al-Maliki’s arrest warrant against Sunni Vice President and longtime critic Tariq al-Hashemi.

Al-Maliki accuses al-Hashemi of organizing assassinations, and the warrant has sparked a political crisis. Al-Hashemi denied the charges. The Iraqiya bloc to which he belongs is boycotting parliament, complaining that al-Maliki does not share power, and it is threatening to pull out of the unity government.
The prime minister also asked parliament to issue a vote of no-confidence in Iraqiya lawmaker Saleh al-Mutlaq in what could be a prelude to removing or prosecuting him. Al-Mutlaq, a deputy prime minister, branded al-Maliki a dictator in a TV interview while the Shiite leader was visiting Washington this month.

For Sunnis, the moves stoke fears that the majority Shiites want to exclude them from politics and completely dominate the country. They also worry that increasing Shiite power will translate into greater influence from neighboring, Shiite-led Iran. On Sunday, Iran’s armed forces chief of staff Gen. Hassan Firouzabadi said his country was ready to expand its military, defense and security relations with Iraq now that the Americans have left, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA.



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(Carolyn Kaster, File/Associated Press) - FILE - In this Monday, Dec. 12, 2011 file photo, Iraq’s Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki gestures during his news conference with President Barack Obama in the South Court Auditorium on the White House complex in Washington. In the week since the last American troops left Iraq, Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki ordered an arrest warrant for the country’s highest-ranking Sunni official, threatened to exclude the rival sect from his government and warned that “rivers of blood” would flow if Sunnis seek an autonomous region. The moves confirmed what many long-time observers of Iraqi politics have suspected since al-Maliki came to office more than five years ago _ that he has an authoritarian streak and beneath his tireless rhetoric about national unity is essentially a sectarian politician.

Al-Maliki, meanwhile, has been able to exploit Shiite fears of a Sunni resurgence to keep his coalition’s backing while he expands his personal role. Helping him is the lack of any credible Shiite rival, with former prime minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari and former vice president Adil Abdel-Mahdi viewed as too weak to take his job. Also, parliament has been unable to exercise full oversight because it is fractured and deeply divided on sectarian and ethnic lines.

His holding of the defense and interior portfolios gives him direct power over the military and police, though he recently appointed a Sunni ally as acting defense minister.

He has sole control over security forces deployed in Baghdad, creating the Baghdad Operations Command, an elite outfit that is independent from the ministries. The force was created during the height of violence several years ago and was meant to be temporary, but he has kept it in place.

The command, according to aides familiar with the inner workings of al-Maliki’s office, takes its orders exclusively from the prime minister and reports to him alone. The commander of the Baghdad-based forces, his deputy and chief of staff are all Shiites loyal to the prime minister, said the aides.

His control over funds for assigning security details for judges, for example, or offering them safe housing out of militants’ reach and inside Baghdad’s heavily protected Green Zone has meant that many senior judges became beholden to al-Maliki, said the aides, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject.

At the same time, he has worked to defend his Shiite allies against corruption allegations that he consistently dismisses as “media talk.” This month, a senior Shiite official from the Baghdad provincial council, Saber al-Issawi, was summoned for questioning by parliament on corruption allegations, but the probe was soon halted and the entire case was shelved.

“Al-Maliki is willing to sacrifice government partners like the Sunnis and the Kurds, but not Shiite allies,” said one aide.

The prime minister appears increasingly willing to dump the unity government by pushing out the Iraqiya bloc, threatening that ministers who decide to stay away from Cabinet meetings will be foregoing their jobs as a result.

His aides also speak of him running for a third term when his current 4-year stint ends in 2014, despite his earlier promises that he would not run again.

But the greater fear is that al-Maliki’s offensive on the Sunni politicians could re-ignite the sectarian violence that tore the country apart in 2006 and 2007. Without the Americans acting as a buffer between Sunnis and Shiites, an explosion of violence now could be even worse.

“The man is becoming more authoritarian, because he believes the coalition government is uncomfortable for him,” said political analyst Kadhum al-Muqdadi. “The prime minister should ideally be for all Iraqis, not just for his sect.”

> ___

http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?a_id=113672

http://www.4-traders.com/MOL-MAGYAR-OLAJ-ES-GAZIP-6491746/news/MOL-MAGYAR-OLAJ-ES-GAZIPARI-NYRT-Kurdistan-Region-of-Iraq-Akri-Bijeel-block-operational-update-and-2-13949021/

MOL Magyar Olaj- es Gazipari Nyrt. : Kurdistan Region of Iraq: Akri-Bijeel block operational update and 2012 outlook

MOL Plc. hereby informs the capital market participants about the operational update of Akri-
Bijeel block and provides a detailed preliminary working program for 2012. As a result of the
earlier exploration works between 2007 and 2009, MOL identified three to five hydrocarbon
prospects in the Akri-Bijeel Block. The first exploration well justified one of these in the
beginning of 2010. The Bijell-1 well produced during the joint cased hole test 3,743 bbl/d 13-
18°API oil and 99 boe/d associated gas from Jurassic formations. The second exploration
well, Bekhme-1, which was drilled 20 km to the east from the Bijell-1 discovery well, was
tested between October and December 2011. The total depth was reached at 5000 m in
Triassic sequence. While no commercial inflow was experienced in Bekhme-1 well, data
gained significantly contributed to our knowledge on the geological setting/history of this
unexplored region, decreasing uncertainty for remaining potentials to be tested next year by
two additional exploration wells. Bekhme-1 is to be suspended; the test results are expected
not to change significantly the earlier estimated and published fully diluted, unrisked
recoverable resource potential of MOL's share in the Akri-Bijeel and Shaikan blocks.

So what have they experience to commit to this program?

Hungary's MOL to boost Kurdistan exploration in 2012

BUDAPEST Dec 28 (Reuters) - Hungarian oil and gas group MOL plans to boost its exploration, appraisal and development program in the Akri-Bijeel block in Kurdistan, spending more than $100 million on the project in 2012, the company said in a statement on Wednesday.

MOL shares closed at 17,900 forints on Tuesday, down 0.1 percent from Friday, versus a 0.9 percent drop in the wider market. (Reporting by Marton Dunai; Editing by David Holmes)

http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFL6E7NS07P20111228

SP recovered after initial drop,while perhaps not as good as hoped for,their are positive signs?
Apost from the respected Zengas.


Bechme-1 only suspended (not P&A).

A 2nd exploration well just 4-5km from Bechme-1 next year (as per todays scale map). Significant ???

Here's what was said about Sheik-Adi-1 (which they beleive has 3 billion bls just on the western side alone) -

"Sheikh Adi-1 exploration will now be suspended pending further testing once fracture treatment parameters and logistics have been finalised".

"A second exploration well is currently being considered for 2012, prior to commencing an appraisal program for Sheikh Adi. While the design and logistics of the treatment and test programme are worked out, the drilling rig will suspend the well and move to the Shaikan-5 location".

Perhaps MOL also have no significant fraccing equipment in Kurdistan (as per GLP re parameters/logistics - ie will take a bit of time to study the appropriate programme necessary ?) It's certainly not preventing MOL showing the next well location so close to Bechme-1 which is significant imo.

Either way, we know it's for sale and Akri-Bijeel has a costly significant programme alone (regardless of the rest of the block) so i expect the sale process to conclude soon.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Personally i'm slightly baffled as to
why GKP have not issued a RNS,they've not been shy of doung so of late?

fracking equipment is not exactly high tech stuff and is generally readily available

I don't think they're in any great rush,drilling another well in 2012 will give them a better understanding of what's required? PTR recently told us(via oilbarrel presentation) hey got there fraccing wrong,resulting in poor flow rates.
Quite a commitment for the future,begging the question why?

Mol are known to play there cards close to their chest,thoughtful post from another BB.

nteresting (to say the least) RNS from MOL. All that time drilling and testing and very little info. In the past I've slagged off GKP for not providing enough information when releasing news but companies such as MOL and Niko take the biscuit. AB is a company maker even for MOL so if I was a shareholder I'd be a little annoyed at the lack of detail and clarity.

Also worth remembering back to when Shaikan-1 struck oil and GKP started to release figures only for MOL to underplay the figures and dismiss the volumes. What comes around goes around maybe.

Probably the later question worth reading?


Gulf Keystone Petroleum primed for an exciting New Year
9:00 am Shaikan is thought to contain as many as 13.4 billion barrels


The excitement around Gulf Keystone Petroleum (LON:GKP) has been immense ever since it struck oil on the Shaikan block in Kurdistan. Following a busy year with drill bit there is little doubt now the group is sitting on a world class discovery. Emerging now is the huge potential of its other projects in the region.

Q: 2011 has been a busy year. Run us through the major news flow events of 2012?


GKP : 2011 has been a year full of news for Gulf Keystone. We continued to focus on our operations across four blocks in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq while progressing our gradual exit from Algeria.

In Kurdistan, we announced two significant upgrades of resource estimates for our world-class discovery at Shaikan. As of November 2011, the revised gross oil-in-place volumes for the Shaikan discovery, as calculated by Dynamic Global Advisors, our independent Houston-based exploration consultants, are a P90 value of 8 billion barrels to a P10 value of 13.4 billion barrels of oil-in-place with a mean value of 10.5 billion barrels.

It is important to remember that from discovery in August 2009 to today, the estimated size of Shaikan has grown considerably and that these recent resource estimates are supported by independent third party evaluations. Shaikan’s growth will continue as further wells are drilled and deep prospects are de-risked.

Many of your readers are familiar with Gulf Keystone’s story of success in Kurdistan. This story can be summarised in four key points:

- Gulf Keystone has discovered multi-billion barrel resources in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

- In addition to already discovered resources, Gulf Keystone believes in the company’s high-probability exploration prospect inventory, which includes all the four blocks in which we have a working interest and two out of which we operate.

- Gulf Keystone is on a clear path of significantly increasing current test output levels, move to commercial production which will exceed 400,000 bopd from the Shaikan field in the future.

- Gulf Keystone has a proven operating capability in the region and a leading Kurdistan brand.

In terms of completed or current exploration and appraisal wells, Gulf Keystone, with our ten wells and three operated rigs, is the third leading operator in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (after DNO and Genel Energy). The company has about 700 personnel working in the region.

Q: What do you think will be the decisive factors in confirming and cementing Kurdistan’s status as a major region for oil exploration and production?

GKP: Kurdistan is an undiscovered prolific oil province where discovery success rates have exceeded 70 per cent and where Gulf Keystone has an interest in four adjacent and on trend blocks of Shaikan, Sheikh Adi, Ber Bahr and Akri-Bijeel.

For comparison, the nearby Kirkuk field has produced over 20 billion barrels since 1934. Gulf Keystone’s two exploration wells Shaikan-1 and Bijell-1 resulted in two discoveries and we believe that a discovery at the Sheikh Adi block is imminent, while eagerly anticipating first results from the Ber Bahr-1 exploration well.

We have always said that Shaikan is just the start. Gulf Keystone’s high impact exploration and appraisal drilling campaign, planned and funded through 2012, will target additional billions of barrels of prospective resources across the four blocks. We look forward to drilling the Shaikan-7 exploration well in 2012, which will target the lower Triassic and the Permian, which is the deepest undrilled horizon for the company to date.

Q: Explain the potential significance of Ber Baehr for those unfamiliar with this facet of the GKP story.

GKP: We believe that Ber Bahr is a low risk and high impact structure with multi-billion barrel potential. It is on trend with Shaikan, which is our world-class discovery, and close to existing and proposed export routes. Genel Energy, the operator of the Ber Bahr block, spudded the first exploration well in October 2011 and we are eagerly anticipating first results from Ber Bahr-1 early in 2012.

Q: You raised $200 million via a share placing that underlined the interest in the GKP. How long will these funds last, and how might you raise alternative sources of finance?

GKP: Gulf Keystone has raised funds in 2010 and 2011. As a result, our high impact exploration and appraisal drilling campaign is planned and funded through 2012.

Q: Earlier this year you announced plans to sell your stake in Akri-Bijeel. Has there been much interest?

GKP: We are making progress with the preparatory work to implement the announced intention to seek a buyer for the company’s 20 per cent working interest in the Akri-Bijeel block.

Q: You are now producing significant quantities of oil from Shaikan, some of which is being sold into the domestic market. You had plans to export oil. What is the current status of those plans?

GKP: In November, we recommenced sales of the Shaikan crude produced at the extended well test facilities into the domestic market. We are currently selling between 1,500 bopd and 2,000 bopd and this initial rate will increase significantly once the ongoing upgrade of the existing facilities has been completed next year.

This upgrade will also allow us to produce oil meeting export oil specification and, therefore, ramp-up our export operations. In addition, we plan to design and construct Shaikan-2 additional EWT facilities, which will allow us to increase our extended test output to 30,000-40,000 bopd.

Q: What lies ahead of Gulf Keystone in 2011?

GKP: Our plans in 2012 include the completion of the Shaikan appraisal programme and drilling of the Shaikan-7 exploration well, increase the Shaikan extended well test output to 30,000-40,000 bopd, continue work on the Shaikan field development plan and Shaikan export pipeline, progress the exploration activities on the Sheikh Adi, Ber Bahr and Akri-Bijeel blocks, move to the premium listing on the London Stock Exchange.

http://www.updown.com/Exxon-May-Not-Want-It,-But-Gulf-Keystone-Could-Have-Several-Suitors/stock-news/1318265


Exxon May Not Want It, But Gulf Keystone Could Have Several Suitors
Dec 19, 2011 - 12:52 PM EST

News broke Sunday that Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM), the largest U.S. oil company, may be mulling an almost $11 billion bid for U.K.-based Gulf Keystone Petroleum, which has a significant footprint in Iraq's semi-autonomous oil-rich Kurdistan region.

That speculation has been refuted today with the British company saying in a statement "Gulf Keystone notes the continued unfounded press speculation regarding a potential offer for the Company. The Board of Gulf Keystone ("the Board") does not normally comment on speculation, but confirms that it remains committed to creating value for shareholders, via the continuing 2011/2012 exploration and appraisal programme on its world-class assets in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Whilst there is clearly increasing interest in the region in which Gulf Keystone operates, the Board is not in discussions with regard to a sale of the Company."

For its part, Dow component Exxon declined to comment, but traders believe Gulf Keystone remains an attractive takeover target. After all, by some estimates the Kurdistan region may be home to over 40 billion barrels of oil reserves. And that's onshore drilling we're talking about, not riskier, costlier offshore drilling.

So while Exxon may pass on Gulf Keystone (the U.S. company already has a Kurdistan presence), the following companies may very well be interested in the British oil junior.

Sinopec (NYSE: SNP): As we mentioned on Sunday, China's Sinopec has already been said to be monitoring the situation between Exxon and Gulf Keystone. We know this much: Sinopec and larger Chinese rival PetroChina (NYSE: PTR) have been active in Iraq and in global energy mergers and acquisitions. The reality is China is so desperate to get its hands on oil reserves, geography doesn't matter. Chinese oil majors will go anywhere to find new reserves.

Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS-A): Europe's largest oil company already has a significant presence in Iraq and one unidentified trader cited by the Wall Street Journal today said the Anglo-Dutch oil giant and rival BP (NYSE: BP) could be mulling counter bids for Gulf Keystone. Even if it were forced to pay $11 billion to $12 billion for Gulf Keystone, Shell could easily afford it. The company has a market cap just south of $220 billion.

Chevron (NYSE: CVX): Wherever Exxon may be looking for a deal, Chevron may not be far behind. The second-largest U.S. oil company is having a tough go of things in Brazil so that may tempt the company to look for other avenues for international growth. Plus, Chevron is already working with the Kurdistan government to bolster its exploration and production there. Indeed, buying Gulf Keystone would make sense for California-based Chevron.

Those are three of the obvious potential suitors for Gulf Keystone. Now let's look at two that may be flying under the radar at the moment.

Occidental Petroleum (NYSE: OXY): As we noted last week, Occidental only drills onshore. The fourth-largest U.S. oil company has a bigger Iraq presence than many oil sector novices realize and yes, Occidental can afford an $11 billion price tag for Gulf Keystone.

Total SA (NYSE: TOT): The French oil major hasn't been mentioned as a potentials suitor for Gulf Keystone yet, but it may want to consider at least a bid for the British firm. If nothing else, that could keep Shell or BP honest and maybe drive the price higher for Total's two larger European rivals. Or Total could just buy Gulf Keystone because it can afford to and wants to expand in Iraq.

so BP are going to take on a potential civil war in Iraq? Don't they have enough problems in the US and Russia?

.

If DES need oil they should visit their nearest gas station!

.

the two long posts above are both little more than puff .... the one is self-advertising and the other old (19/12) rumour that to date has been shown as a load of tosh

News from iii

Note from Currency Newshound Maliki is now talking about cascading powers out into the regions. This Federalist vs Centralist approach the Kurds having been striving for since day one, Allawi is saying to the New York times that the Erbil Agreement should be implemented (he had previously not been aligned with it and lost the Kurds support and lost being PM) and now we see Maliki drfiting to more provincial power in the below article. This is a huge, huge political shift and goes against what he was previously trying to do. I personally sense he is now bending before things start to break and this must be incredibly good news. I also sense its a slow process what what has happened so far but its going in the right direction


Maliki announced a plan to turn the powers of the central government to local goernments, except for the sovereign and securityPosted: December 29, 2011 in Iraqi Dinar/Politics
Tags: Al-Maliki, anbar, Iraq, Maliki, Nouri al-Maliki, Nuri al-Maliki, prime minister, Wednesday 28/12/2011 18:28

BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Wednesday, the existence of a plan to convert all the powers of the central government to local governments, except those related to sovereignty, security and foreign policy and the distribution of wealth that must be centralized so that is distributed to all citizens equally.

A statement by the Prime Minister’s Office that it came during a meeting with Maliki in his office today, the official number of the elders and chiefs of Anbar province.
He said al-Maliki said in a statement “the need to maintain national unity among all Iraqis, and expand the powers of provinces, including position to provide services and accelerate the process of reconstruction of their provinces.”

He declared “the existence of a plan to convert all the powers of the central vernment to local governments, except those related to sovereignty, security and foreign policy and the distribution of wealth that must be centralized so that is distributed to all citizens equally.”

Maliki said “the legality of the demands made ​​by the province of Anbar,” stressing his willingness to meet them all, but “the demands that are outside the circle of his constitutional powers.”

The statement said that “the elders of Anbar province, confirmed their support for the government of Prime Minister, particularly in its efforts to maintain the country’s unity, sovereignty and stability, stressing the depth of the brotherly ties between all Iraqis for being stronger than the challenges they face.”