A renewed focus on Oman and Abu Dhabi has revitalized the Middle East portfolio of US independent Occidental (Oxy). Having trimmed the fat from 2013-17, the US firm has embarked on a tightly focused expansion drive, with its most recent acquisition being an onshore exploration block in Abu Dhabi that it secured last week (MEES, 8 February).

Oxy now has a swathe of contiguous assets stretching across northern Oman that reaches to within around 60km of its new Abu Dhabi asset – Onshore 3 (see map). The firm’s leadership expects to capitalize on its “best in class” regional geological knowledge. (CONTINUED - 1307 WORDS)