BP, Shell among bidders to run Qatar oil field: report

Six international oil companies, including BP and Royal Dutch Shell, have placed bids to operate Qatar’s largest offshore oil field, Reuters reported, citing two sources with knowledge of the matter.

The field’s current operator, Maersk Oil Qatar, is looking to renew its contract, while Total SA, Chevron Corp. and ConocoPhillips are also vying to win the bid to run the Al Shaheen field.

State-owned Qatar Petroleum is expected to award the contract within the second half of 2016, sources said.

The tender came after the Gulf state planned to raise production at the field to 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) from its current 300,000 bpd.

Maersk, Chevron, Conoco and Qatar Petroleum did not immediately respond to requests to comment, the report said, while Shell and BP declined, the news agency said.

Total’s CEO Patrick Pouyanne had confirmed the company’s bid earlier this month.

Maersk’s 25-year contract expires in 2017. The company initially planned for to raise output to 525,000 bpd by 2010, but failed to reach the target.