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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

Key Question

Can foreign oil majors protect Gulf infrastructure when drones reach the Shah gas field?

Timeline for Occidental Petroleum

#3815 Mar

Co-operated Shah gas field when drone strike ignited the fire

Iran Conflict 2026: Drone fire shuts UAE's $10bn gas field

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Common Questions

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

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.

More questions

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

How the World Sees Them

Iran

Iranian-aligned actors have demonstrated the ability to reach deep into UAE territory and strike economically significant targets. The Shah gas field attack signals that Gulf energy infrastructure operated by Western partners is now within the threat envelope.

Saudi Arabia

Riyadh follows UAE energy disruptions carefully, knowing its own facilities face similar drone risks. The Shah strike reinforces Saudi Arabia's push to harden oil and gas infrastructure against the drone and missile threat across the Gulf.

United States

Occidental is a flagship US energy company with major overseas assets, and Washington watches Gulf energy disruptions closely given their effect on global oil markets. The Shah strike underlines the risk exposure US firms accept when operating in conflict-adjacent Gulf territory.

United Arab Emirates

The UAE relies on Occidental as a key foreign operator in its gas programme, particularly at the capital-intensive Shah sour gas facility. The drone strike in 2026 exposed how vulnerable joint-venture infrastructure is to asymmetric attack, prompting urgent reviews of field security.