Occidental Petroleum
US oil and gas major co-operating the Shah gas field in the UAE, now disrupted by drone strike.
Last refreshed: 30 March 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Can foreign oil majors protect Gulf infrastructure when drones reach the Shah gas field?
Latest on Occidental Petroleum
- What is Occidental Petroleum?
- Occidental Petroleum (OXY) is a US oil and gas company founded in 1920 and headquartered in Houston, Texas. It operates in the Americas, Middle East, and Africa, and co-operates the Shah sour gas field in the UAE with ADNOC.Source: Lowdown
- What happened to the Shah gas field Occidental operates?
- In early 2026, a drone ignited a fire at the Shah Gas Field, jointly operated by Occidental and ADNOC, 180 km southwest of Abu Dhabi. Operations were suspended. The field processes 1 billion cubic feet of gas per day.Source: Lowdown
- Who owns Occidental Petroleum?
- Occidental Petroleum is a publicly traded company listed on the NYSE as OXY. Berkshire Hathaway holds a significant equity stake, making Warren Buffett one of its largest shareholders.Source: Lowdown
- How does Occidental Petroleum compare to ExxonMobil in the Middle East?
- Both are major US oil companies with Middle East operations, but Occidental's exposure is more concentrated: its primary Gulf asset is the Shah Gas Field joint venture with ADNOC. ExxonMobil has broader regional presence across multiple countries and projects.Source: Lowdown
- Is the Shah gas field still operating after the 2026 drone strike?
- Operations at the Shah Gas Field were suspended after a drone attack in early 2026 ignited a fire at the facility. No injuries were reported, but the plant, which processes 1 billion cubic feet of gas per day, was shut down pending assessment.Source: Lowdown
Background
Occidental Petroleum is a US oil and gas company founded in 1920 and headquartered in Houston, Texas. It operates across the Americas, Africa, and the Middle East, with a major stake in enhanced oil recovery and chemical manufacturing through its OxyChem subsidiary. The company is among the largest US oil producers, with Berkshire Hathaway holding a significant equity position.
In the Middle East, Occidental co-operates the Shah Gas Field with ADNOC, one of the world's largest sour gas processing facilities located 180 km southwest of Abu Dhabi. In early 2026, a drone struck the field, igniting a fire and forcing a full suspension of operations at a plant processing 1 billion cubic feet of gas per day .
The Shah attack places Occidental at the intersection of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) energy infrastructure and the broader Iran conflict. The company faces the uncomfortable reality that its most strategically exposed joint venture sits within range of Iranian-aligned drone operators, raising questions about the security of Gulf energy assets and the long-term viability of foreign investment in UAE gas.
