Analyzing the Nature of Upstream Oil Contracts from Shia Islamic Jurisprudence Point of View

Iranian petroleum industry is in need of attracting investment and technology. This important issue is done through upstream contracts. In more than 100 years history of Iran’s oil, different sorts of contracts have been used. Compliance with Shariah is one of the most important criterions for using these contracts in Islamic Republic of Iran. Upstream contracts divide into two main branches naming service contracts and production sharing contracts. Commitments to outcome (bearing the risks of failing in exploration) and profit sharing (costs recovery and profit oil sharing) are the pillars of oil contracts and the main difference between service contracts and production sharing contracts is the way of compensation of operator which is in cash in service contracts and in kind in production sharing contracts. Conducting comparative analysis between oil contracts and some jurisprudential institutions we found that both service contracts and production sharing contracts are compliant with specific Jualah. Meanwhile, we have analyzed Buy-Back contracts (along with Long term crude oil sale agreement) and Iran Petroleum Contract.