The rights, interests and duties of host countries and international oil companies under international petroleum agreements

The aim of this thesis is to examine the broad legal relationship that characterises most agreements between host countries and international oil companies.;Chapter II offers a brief focus on the interests of host countries vis-a-vis international oil companies, and constraints involved in structuring a mutually advantageous petroleum contract.;Chapter III is devoted to a discussion of the institutional and legislative mechanisms against the background of the host countries' permanent sovereignty over their natural resources.;Chapter IV evaluates the trends in the main types of petroleum contracts.;Chapter I provides a historical sketch of international oil companies and their operations in developing countries.;Chapter V discusses differing approaches to dealing with changing circumstances under the petroleum agreement.;Chapter VI concludes with issues that require action in structuring a stable and equitable petroleum regime. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).