The US this week sent a senior energy official to Riyadh for discussions with Saudi Oil Minister Ali Naimi amid conflicting forecasts of impact lower prices will have on US output.

A brief report carried by official Saudi news agency SPA said the discussions held with Deputy US Energy Secretary Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall covered recent developments in the international oil market, as well as possible avenues of cooperation between the two countries in solar energy, the environment, joint investment and technical exchanges. The US official also visited the Saudi Electricity Authority, suggesting the visit was not purely related to oil. (CONTINUED - 2047 WORDS)