Iraq’s Oil and Gas Industry

Janan Al-Asady, PhD, is a commercial Barrister in London, UK.

Foreword

Acknowledgements

Abbreviations and acronyms

PART I

1 Introduction

1.1 Research methodology

1.2 History

1.3 Politics

1.4 Economic policy

1.5 Legal issues

1.5.1 Ownership and sovereignty of oil

1.6 Constitution

1.7 Oil legislation

1.7.1 The draft oil laws

1.7.2 Oil concessions

1.8 Current agreements

1.9 Research

1.10 Conclusion

2 Sovereignty and ownership of oil resources

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Ownership

2.2.1 Definitions

2.2.2 Key concepts relating to natural resource ownership

2.2.2.1 Property rights

2.2.2.2 Authority of the state

2.3 The legal concepts of property ownership and sovereignty

2.3.1 Islamic law concepts underlying natural resource ownership

2.3.2 The principle of Permanent Sovereignty of Natural Resources (PSNR)

PART II

3 Historical background to 2003

3.1 Historical backgrounds

3.2 The first oil companies in Iraq, oil concessions and discovery

3.3 Recent history

3.4 Land ownership in Iraq and sovereignty

3.4.1 The Ottoman laws

3.4.2 Sovereignty and nationalisation

3.5 Ownership of Iraqi oil reserves post-2003

3.5.1 Federalism

3.5.1.1 The meaning of federalism, definitions and implications for Iraq

3.5.1.2 The formation of a federal state

3.5.2 CPA orders and transitional provisions

3.5.3 The 2005 electoral process and subsequent developments

3.5.4 The 2005 Constitution

3.5.4.1 Comments on legal opinion provided to the KRG

3.5.4.2 Analysis of Article 112

3.5.4.3 Constitutional ambiguities and the section on federal powers

3.5.5 Future implications of federalism on oil revenues

4 The legislative framework of the Iraqi oil industry

4.1 Current laws governing the oil industry

4.1.1 Pre-2003

4.1.2 Post-2003

4.1.2.1 The TAL

4.1.2.2 The Constitution – oil, disputed territories and related issues

4.1.3 The Kurdish region

4.2 The Federal Draft Oil and Gas Law (DOGL) and revenue sharing

4.2.1 Definitions

4.2.2 Purpose and application of the law

4.2.3 Control and management of resources

4.2.4 Contract review provisions

4.2.5 INOC

4.2.6 Field development

4.2.7 Mechanisms of negotiation

4.2.8 Model contracts

4.2.9 Licences and obligations of licence holders

4.2.10 Unitisation of fields

4.2.11 Gas

4.2.12 Transportation

4.2.13 Protection of resources

4.2.14 Inspection

4.2.15 Petroleum returns and financial obligations

4.2.16 Conflict resolution

4.2.17 Transparency

4.2.18 Final provisions

4.3 Tender process

4.3.1 Law currently governing tenders

4.3.2 Bid process

4.3.2.1 Pre-selection

4.3.2.2 Bid rounds

4.3.2.3 Development of the bid rounds

4.4 Transparency of the law

4.5 Conclusion

5 The contractual framework for Iraq’s oil industry

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Contracts typically used in the industry and common terms

5.2.1 Concession agreements

5.2.2 Production sharing contracts

5.2.3 Service contracts

5.2.3.1 Risk service contracts

5.2.3.2 Technical service contracts

5.2.4 JVs and joint operating agreements

5.2.5 Licences

5.2.6 Farm-out agreements

5.2.7 Common clauses

5.2.7.1 Participation agreements

5.2.7.2 Buy-back agreements

5.3 Oil agreement structures in Iraq

5.3.1 Technical service contracts

5.3.2 Development and production technical service contracts

5.4 Key contractual provisions

5.4.1 Fundamental provisions

5.4.1.1 Term and participation

5.4.1.2 Minimum work obligations

5.4.1.3 Phases

5.4.1.4 Production targets and relinquishment

5.4.2 Assignment and subcontracting

5.4.3 Signature bonuses and exclusivity clauses

5.4.4 Measurement policies (SOMO and MoO)

5.4.5 Taxation

5.4.6 Investor returns – cost recovery and remuneration

5.4.7 Title to and use of assets

5.4.8 Force majeure

5.4.9 Stabilisation

5.4.10 Technology transfer

5.4.11 Dispute resolution

5.4.12 Termination

5.5 The KRG PSCs

5.5.1 Legitimacy

5.5.2 Governing law and dispute resolution

5.5.3 Key terms

5.5.3.1 Bonuses

5.5.3.2 Participating interest

5.5.3.3 Government revenues

5.5.3.4 Cost recovery

5.5.3.5 Assignment and subcontracting

5.5.3.6 Relinquishment and decommissioning

5.5.3.7 Termination

5.6 Differences between the PSCs and the TSCs

5.7 Conclusion

6 Conclusion

Recommendation

Appendix 1: Covenant of the League of Nations

Articles I and XXII

Appendix 2: Maps of Iraq

Appendix 3: Table of oil fields and companies in Iraq 2016

Bibliography

Index