Not quite related but I also thought this was interesting
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/10/409832.html
"Nonetheless, Shell is now poised to sign a long-term multi-billion dollar contract to process natural gas in southern Iraq (a joint venture with the oil ministry, in which Shell will have a 49% stake – see FT, 8 Sept), and on 13 October Iraq’s oil minister will be in London 'meet[ing] energy firms bidding for long-term oil and gas service contracts' in Iraq, 'discuss[ing] details of the fields on offer as well as contract terms' (Reuters, 14 Sept) "