Chevron eyes Lukoil’s Iraq assets

BASRA - Iraq is pursuing a deal for Chevron to acquire Lukoil's stake in the West Qurna 2 oil field, as a deadline approaches for new U.S. sanctions to hit the Russian company.

A delegation from Chevron visited both the field and the headquarters of the state-run Basra Oil Company (BOC) on Tuesday, according to three Basra-based Iraqi oil officials and an industry official, who described the American company as the leading contender to take over for Lukoil. Company officials had previously met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Oil Minister Hayyan Abdulghani in Baghdad on Dec. 10, according to Oil Ministry statements.