Iraq's cabinet approved Basra Oil Company signing "a heads of agreement", or preliminary agreement, and a non-disclosure agreement with a consortium including US companies Capital TI and Chevron and Qatar's UCC to study strategic oil export pipeline projects, according to a cabinet statement. The consortium will prepare technical and financial feasibility studies comparing proposed routes including Basra-Haditha-Kirkuk-Ceyhan and Basra-Haditha-Baniyas. The cabinet said the agreements would not create any final financial or contractual obligation for the Iraqi oil ministry. It also authorized Basra Oil Company to sign a consultancy services contract with KBR for a Basra-Haditha oil pipeline project.
