Yemen Oil

From 9/11 Encyclopedia:

Due to Yementimes from October 27th 2002, Yemen (which borders Israel) has large quantities of oil and gas and therefore great oil exploration potential across the republic. Oil Deputy Minister Abdulmalik Alama explained in an interview, that the September 11th 2002 eplosion of the oil tanker Limburg gave insurance companies chances to raise prices and therefore Yemen will not be able find buyers for the oil. Alama participated in the autumn "Conference of the North", which included 1,200 oil Investment companies and manufacturers of oil equipment. 

Yemen talked especially with Norway Oil Organizations.
(In 2002, Norway was the world's biggest operator of submarine gas pipelines and the world's second biggest exporter of oil. ->Norway)

In August 2000, Mou Shuling, Vice President of China's Petrochemical Corporation (= SINOPEC, established in July 1998) met already with ranking Yemeni officials and discussed with them ways of boosting bilateral cooperation between Yemen and China. 

Already in contact since 10 years, in April 1999 SINOPEC began with test drills in Yemen. The first well drilled at Sea Block 53 for Dove Energy was an immediate success testing about 5,000 barrels of crude oil per day. 
Source: http://www.yementimes.com/00/iss32/intrview.htm

On October 12th, 2000 the US Navy Ship USS Cole was attacked by an explosion that tore a hole in the side of the warship when it apparently was rammed by an unidentified rubber boat while the destroyer was in Aden, Yemen (Arabian/Persian Gulf) for a refueling stop. Four U.S. sailors were killed in the incident. This incident put further oil business of Yemen on hold. (->USS Cole) (See John O'Neill)