Old rivalries seen blocking OPEC deal to support oil price

Khalid Al-Falih Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources of Saudi Arabia answers questions as part of the 15th International Energy Forum Ministerial meeting in Algiers, Algeria, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. At meetings in Algeria this week, energy ministers from OPEC and other oil-producing countries are discussing whether to freeze production levels to boost global oil prices. (AP Photo/ Sidali Djarboub) (The Associated Press)

Iran's Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh attends the opening session of the 15th International Energy Forum Ministerial meeting in Algiers, Algeria, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016. At meetings in Algeria this week, energy ministers from OPEC and other oil-producing countries are discussing whether to freeze production levels to boost global oil prices. (AP Photo/ Sidali Djarboub) (The Associated Press)

Prospects are dim for a deal among OPEC countries on Wednesday to freeze production and support oil prices, amid disagreements between rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Officials from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will meet informally on the sidelines of an energy conference in Algiers to try to find common ground on how to stabilize oil markets. Experts say that would require a decision to limit output — an idea Iran still views with skepticism, as it's trying to restore its oil industry since emerging from international sanctions this year.

On Tuesday, Iranian Petroleum Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh played down the OPEC gathering, calling it "just a consultation meeting ... If there is a decision, it should be taken at the next (OPEC) meeting in Vienna in November."

The price of crude oil has fallen sharply since mid-2014, when it was over $100 a barrel, dropping below $30 at the start of this year. On Wednesday, the U.S. contract was trading at $44.87 a barrel, up 20 cents on the day.

Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil producer and Iran's rival for power in the Middle East, appears to be more amenable to some sort of production limit, certainly more so than in April when OPEC failed to agree on measures to curb supplies.

Saudi Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih has this week promised to "support any decision aimed at stabilizing the market."

Over the past couple years, OPEC countries, led by Saudi Arabia, had been willing to let the oil price drop as a means of driving some U.S. shale oil and gas producers out of business. Shale oil and gas requires a higher price to break even.

Those lower prices have hurt many oil-producing nations hard, particularly OPEC members Venezuela and Nigeria, but also Russia and Brazil.