SAVE MONEY ON TRAVEL DEALS

Company spokesman Francis Canavan said Bechtel had "performed an in-country assessment of oil fields for the Ministry of Oil, and is exploring the possibility of providing engineering, procurement and construction services to oil companies", the San Francisco Chronicle reported Wednesday.

For Bechtel, it would be the second venture in the country after the first wave of reconstruction that ended with mixed results, the newspaper said.

Of the highest concern, 52 employees, including subcontractors, were killed during the company's first major involvement in Iraq, the newspaper said.

Secondly, much of the work previously done has been destroyed in the ongoing conflict.

In addition, the government was critical of much of the company's work, the Chronicle said.

Cliff Mumm, the firm's project director in Iraq, who helped manage contracts worth $2.9 billion, said in 2006 he was disappointed in the outcome of the company's previous projects in Iraq.

"I would say emphatically no. And it's heartbreaking", he said, when asked if he was pleased with results of the work done in Iraq.

 BREAKING STORIES

Officer: Military cuts possible in Iraq

Iraqi leader denies assassination attempt

Maliki leads Baghdad vote count

Maliki holds slim lead in Iraq election

Candidate ban threatens Iraqi results

Iraqi election turnout 62 percent

Candidate calls for probe of Iraq election

Attacks erupt during Iraqi election

British military officials criticize Brown

Democracy in Iraq showcased in election

Car bomb kills 3 in Shiite holy city

Brown denies underfunding troops in Iraq

Maliki: Elections won't spread violence

Early voting begins in Iraq

Iraqi city sees increase in birth defects

Three blasts in Baquba kill, injure dozens

Iraq candidates lavish voters with gifts

Sunnis protest Iraq's candidate ban

Violence spreads ahead of March elections

Iraqi campaign opens amid suspicion, anger