Caption: **FILE** An oil pump is seen at dusk in this Sept. 19, 2007 file photo, in Sakhir, Bahrain. Energy futures fell Monday, Sept. 24, 2007 after a tropical depression that moved the Gulf of Mexico late last week turned out to be a dud. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali, file) Dato: oil pump nodding donkey middle east bahrain kuwait etc
Oxy and CNR bid in deep-gas tender
US oil player Occidental Petroleum and Canadian Natural Resources have submitted bids for Bahrain's deep gas exploration project, the Gulf state's top oil official said today.
Abdul-Hussain bin Ali Mirza, head of Bahrain's National Oil and Gas Authority (NOGA), said the bids of the two companies were opened today and would be reviewed by NOGA and Bahrain Petroleum Company.
The deal will be awarded by the end of the year, a Reuters report said.
The Gulf island state wants to develop onshore natural gas fields at a depth of up to 20,000 feet (6096 metres) below sea level to meet rising domestic demand.