51.   Russia will join France in developing the field.

52.   The field is being developed by the Gulf Petroleum Company of Sudan, which is believed to be a joint venture between Sudan and Qatar.

53.   The company said Friday it was selling its interests and licenses to develop the fields at a profit to concentrate on core businesses.

54.   The first oil from the international consortium developing offshore fields in Azerbaijan is expected to flow in late August or early September.

55.   Vietsovpetro began developing the field late last year.

56.   After the discovery of commercial oil and gas deposits, the two partners will jointly invest and develop the fields.

57.   Baku offered the project to make up for its decision in March to push out Iran from an international oil partnership to develop offshore fields in the sea.

58.   But Iran which refuses to engage in partnerships with major international companies, can only rely on its own resources to develop its fields and maintain equipment.

59.   But that figure only covers pipeline construction while large investments are also needed to develop gas fields.

60.   The gas field was developed by the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, Atlantic Richfield Company and Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company.