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Oman Expands Oil, Gas Exploration by Signing New Concession Agreement

Officials at the contract signing ceremony (Oman News Agency)
Officials at the contract signing ceremony (Oman News Agency)
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Oman Expands Oil, Gas Exploration by Signing New Concession Agreement

Officials at the contract signing ceremony (Oman News Agency)
Officials at the contract signing ceremony (Oman News Agency)

The Omani Ministry of Energy and Minerals on Sunday signed an agreement with Daleel Petroleum Company (the operator) to explore and develop Concession Area No. 15 in Al Dhahirah Governorate.
The concession agreement constitutes a strategic step towards enhancing oil and gas reserves and expanding production rates through the resources of Area No. 15, a stretch of ​​1,389 square kilometers.
Through this new agreement, Daleel Petroleum Company will undertake a set of geological and geophysical studies, reprocess existing seismic data, conduct a 3D seismic survey and drill several wells to assess the hydrocarbon potential in the designated area.
The agreement was signed by Salim al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals, Mohammed al Barwani, Chairman and Founder of Mohammed Al Barwani Group and Zhang Yu, Vice President of the People’s Republic of China’s national development corporation.
Salah Hafiz Al Dhahab, Director General of Investment at the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, said that Daleel Petroleum company was awarded the contract (as the operator) due to its success in developing Concession Area No. 5 with high efficiency and raising its daily oil production from 5,000 to more than 50,000 barrels per day, according to the Oman News Agency.
Al Dhahab added that the agreement embodies the government’s confidence in national companies operating in the sector, while at the same time underlines Oman’s keenness to consolidate its relationship with Chinese partners, opening the way for more cooperation opportunities that would attract foreign investments.

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Gold Dips to One-week Low as US Jobs Data Awaited

Gold bars from the vault of a bank are seen in this illustration picture taken in Zurich November 20, 2014. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo
Gold bars from the vault of a bank are seen in this illustration picture taken in Zurich November 20, 2014. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo
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Gold Dips to One-week Low as US Jobs Data Awaited

Gold bars from the vault of a bank are seen in this illustration picture taken in Zurich November 20, 2014. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo
Gold bars from the vault of a bank are seen in this illustration picture taken in Zurich November 20, 2014. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo

Gold prices fell to their lowest in more than a week on Monday as the US dollar firmed, while market focus shifted to a series of economic data due this week for clues to the extent of rate cuts at the Federal Reserve's September meeting.

Spot gold fell 0.1% to $2,501.06 per ounce, as of 10:34 GMT after dipping to its lowest since Aug. 23 earlier in the session.

US gold futures rose 0.2% to $2,533.40. Trading is expected to be light with U.S. markets closed for a holiday.

"To move higher from here we need to have more clarity whether it will be 25 (bps) rate cut or 50 (bps) rate cut and probably by the end of the week, with the employment data, we might get more clarity on that side," UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said.

Traders await a slew of US economic data pending this week including the ISM surveys, JOLTS job openings, ADP employment and the non-farm payrolls report, Reuters reported.

The markets broadly expect the Fed to cut rates at its Sept. 17-18 meeting, which would mark its first cut in this policy cycle.

According to the CME FedWatch tool, investors now see a 71% chance of a 25-basis-point cut and a 29% chance of a 50 bp cut in September. Lower rates reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding gold.

"With earnings season now largely completed and a Fed rate cut on Sept. 18 all-but guaranteed, investors appear content to remain long despite some recent firming of both short rates and the US dollar," Mike Ingram, market analyst at Kinesis Money, said in a note.

"High levels of geopolitical risk and portfolio diversification remain as additional supports."

The dollar hovered near a two-week peak hit earlier in the session, making bullion more expensive for holders of other currencies.

Spot silver fell 0.7% to $28.62 per ounce, and hit its lowest in over two weeks.

Platinum was steady at $926.40 and palladium rose 0.5% at $969.99.