Beijing. CNOOC Ltd, China's biggest offshore oil producer, may post first-half profit growth more than double that of PetroChina Co and Royal Dutch Shell Plc after selling more crude to meet diesel demand from factories and farmers.

Jayapura. Angry landowners have gone on strike and stopped construction work on Papua New Guinea's massive Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project. Work has stopped at the ExxonMobil-led LNG project's Kobalu base in Tari, Southern Highlands Province, after more than 100 locals walked off the job.

Tehran. Chairman of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi said on Sunday the continuation of uranium enrichment is inevitable because Iran does not have confidence in the western states.

Kuwait. Explosives experts in the United Arab Emirates confirmed a Japanese-owned oil tanker steaming through the Strait of Hormuz last week came under a terrorist attack. "UAE explosives experts who collected and examined samples found a dent on the starboard side above the water line and remains of home-made explosives on the hull," according to a statement released by the Arab nation's news agency WAM.

China. Lab tests conducted by PetroChina of oil sands samples obtained in Yousha Mountains at Qaidam basin in northwest China determined that the resource is proven economically feasible for further exploration and development.

Iran. Iran plans to produce 2,500 million barrels of oil and 630 billion cubic meters gas over a five year period, said Manager on development of oil pools of National Iranian Oil Company Seyed Mahmoud Muhaddis, FARS reported.

Qatar. Keen to get gas for its plant, state-run NTPC may offer equity stake to Qatar Petroleum in its gas-based projects, a move that would allow the company an assured supply of fuel for operations.

Georgia. Serious competition has begun over the issue as to who will buy the south-north gas pipeline connecting Russia and Armenia and passing through Georgia.