YEMENI WAR FORCES OIL FIRMS' PULLOUTS

Outbreak of civil war in yemen has prompted some oil and gas companies to pull staff out of the country.

Canadian Occidental Petroleum Ltd., Calgary, has evacuated 130 administrative staff and family members from Yemen.

CanOxy operates the prolific Masila block. Masila is thought to be producing about 150,000 b/d, with production to be continued by local staff during the war.

CanOxy personnel and dependents left Aden May 6 aboard a French troop carrier for Greece and air charter to Calgary. A company official said the potential for danger to employees and families had become unacceptable. CanOxy said about 30 workers remained at Mukalla field, about 300 miles east of Aden, and 10 employees were at Aden to oversee loading 630,000 bbl of crude onto the World Prime tanker.

SHELL PULLS OUT STAFF

Shell Internationale Petroleum Mij. BV recalled 16 expatriates, including dependents, leaving 30 local staff to continue operations. Sale of lubricants is Shell's biggest activity in Yemen, although the company has interests in three exploration and production concessions.

Shell subsidiary Pecten International Co. has a 20% stake in Masila block, operated by CanOxy. Shell is 55% interest holder and operator of Shabwa Block 51 and drilled four wells there last year.

The company is disappointed with drilling results and will review prospects in the area before returning. Pecten is also involved in exploring Yemen's Block 12, where ARCO is operator.

U.K. FIRMS

BP Exploration Operating Co. Ltd. flew out its five expatriate staff May 9, having ensured they followed embassy advice and staved at home during the previous weekend. BP recently completed seismic surveys and drilling on Shabwa Blocks 7 and 8, where it has a 60% interest and is operator.

Clyde Petroleum plc, Ledbury, U.K., is operator of Yemen Blocks 10b and 32, where it has been drilling recently. A seismic survey was under way on Block 32 when war broke out. Twenty one expatriates, including dependents, flew out of Yemen May 9. Local contractors' staff were to be evacuated by boat the following days. Roy Franklin, technical director of Clyde, said staff at the Sanaa office reported the situation as quiet after the first day of fighting. Clyde's Yemen operations manager and drilling manager remained to suspend operation on Block 32. Franklin said they were in frequent contact with the U.K. office.

British Gas plc pulled 50 people out of Yemen: seven staff, three dependents and 40 foreign nationals under contract. Evacuation began May 7. BG will evaluate its entire position in Yemen before it returns. Work was suspended on a drilling rig at Qarn Qaymah, the center of BG onshore activities in Yemen. The rig was working on Al Hajar permit, where BG is operator. BG is also outright license holder of Socotra block off Yemen, which carries a two well drilling commitment, and 30% partner in Hood block where Lasmo plc, London, is operator. Lasmo also flew home six expatriate staff and six dependents May 9. The company has completed a three well exploration program on Hood block and had no field operations in progress when war broke out. Drilling on Hood was reportedly unsuccessful. Lasmo had no plans for further work in the region and intends to review its program to date before thinking of a return.