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KRG to set up two New Oil Companies

By John Lee.

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is reportedly setting up two new companies to manage its energy resources.

A new Kurdistan Regional Oil Company (KROC) is to specialise in oil exploration, and the Kurdistan Oil Marketing Organization (KOMO) will concern itself with marketing of the oil.

The development comes as Erbil and Baghdad continue to vie for control of the oil industry in Iraqi Kurdistan.

More here and here.

(Sources: Reuters, Shafaaq)

The post KRG to set up two New Oil Companies first appeared on Iraq Business News.

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Shares in Genel Energy slump on Sarta Result

By John Lee.

Shares in Genel Energy were trading down 7 percent on Tuesday morning after the company announced disappointing results at the Sarta-5 appraisal well:

“Genel Energy plc (‘Genel’ or ‘the Company’) announces the following update on the Sarta PSC (30% working interest and operator).

“Testing of the Sarta-5 appraisal well has been completed. While oil was recovered to surface from a number of intervals, notably c.800 bbls of light oil from the Najmah formation, stable and sustained commercial flow of oil was not achieved from the primary reservoir objectives of the Mus and Adaiyah formations nor the secondary Lower Sargalu or Najmah formations. None of the intervals tested were able to support sustained flow of reservoir fluids, indicating that the reservoirs at this location are tight. This was identified as a critical pre-drill risk of this appraisal well.

“The presence of oil associated with both the primary and secondary Jurassic reservoir intervals, 12 km southeast of the Sarta pilot EPF, will now be subject to further investigation and integration into the joint venture’s understanding of the Sarta field and future planning. The well will now be suspended according to KRI regulations.

“The Sarta appraisal programme continues at Sarta-6, c.6 km to the west of the pilot EPF, with test results expected in Q3.”

(Source: Genel Energy)

The post Shares in Genel Energy slump on Sarta Result first appeared on Iraq Business News.

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CNOOC to Explore Offshore in Iraq

By John Lee.

The China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) is to press ahead with oil exploration at a 530-km2 offshore block in Basra.

Originally agreed in 2019, the work had been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In parallel, Iraq’s state-owned Oil Exploration Company (OEC) will carry out seismic surveys on the adjoining 120-km2 onshore area.

Following these studies, one exploratory well will be drilled onshore and one offshore.

The announcement was made following a workshop (pictured) to study plans for the development of marine blocks, organized by the Oil Exploration Company in cooperation with CNOOC.

(Source: Ministry of Oil)

The post CNOOC to Explore Offshore in Iraq first appeared on Iraq Business News.

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Iraq in talks on Gas Exploration in Western Desert

By John Lee.

Iraq’s Oil Minister Ihsan Abdul-Jabbar Ismail has said that the Iraqi National Oil Company (INOC) has opened a dialogue about gas exploration in the Western Desert in Anbar Governorate.

The company involved was not named, but was described as “one of the major international companies“.

The Minister said Iraq is keen to attract investments, expertise and advanced global technology to explore for hydrocarbons, especially gas, and to work to increase national production of “free gas” in addition to investing associated gas.

(Source: Ministry of Oil)

The post Iraq in talks on Gas Exploration in Western Desert first appeared on Iraq Business News.

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Iraq OKs talks with Chevron on Oil Exploration

By John Lee.

Iraq’s Ministerial Energy Council approved discussions with US-based Chevron on the development of four exploration blocks in Dhi Qar.

The statement from Iraq’s Ministry of Oil gave no further details, but the project had previously been discussed during Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi’s visit to the United States in August.

Chevron currently has interests in the Sarta and Qara Dagh blocks in Iraqi Kurdistan.

(Source: Ministry of Oil)

The post Iraq OKs talks with Chevron on Oil Exploration first appeared on Iraq Business News.

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$8bn New Iraqi Energy Agreements with US Firms

The following commercial agreements worth as much as $8 billion were reached during a signing ceremony between U.S. energy companies and the Government of Iraq on August 19, 2020:

  • Honeywell and the Ministry of Oil agreed to advance the development of the Ar Ratawi [Artawi] gas project, which will further enable Iraq to capture, process, and utilize indigenous gas resources to meet domestic energy demand.
  • General Electric and the Ministry of Electricity committed to three agreements that will help increase reliable access to electricity in Iraq, including efforts related to GE’s existing generation maintenance program, addition of combined cycle units at the Dhi Qar and Samawah power plants, and collaboration on strengthening Iraq’s electricity grid and interconnection with neighboring countries.
  • Stellar Energy and the Ministry of Electricity concluded a front-end engineering and design agreement that will help advance deployment of turbine inlet air chilling technology on more than 30 turbines, which will increase power sector efficiency by as much as 30 percent.
  • Baker Hughes and the Ministry of Oil agreed to further collaboration on flare gas-to-power opportunities, and deployment of U.S. oil field services and equipment.
  • Chevron and the Iraqi Ministry of Oil outlined a framework for entering into exclusive negotiating on an exploration, development, and production contract in the Dhi Qar Province.

US Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette (pictured) said:

“As two of the top oil producers in the world, the United States and Iraq share an appreciation for how energy shapes our economies and can strengthen our respective security.

“That is why I was thrilled to join Prime Minster Kadhimi, Minister Ismael, and Minister Hantoush today for an event featuring this prestigious Iraqi delegation and our great American energy companies. Together, we laid the groundwork for commercial partnerships worth up to $8 billion.

“These deals are key to Iraq’s energy future, and I am confident that the same companies that have empowered the United States to become energy independent will deploy their deep expertise to help Iraq achieve its full potential in the energy sector.“

(Source: US Dept of Energy)

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Iraq to Sign Exploration MoU With Chevron

By John Lee.

Iraq is reported to be planning to sign a memorandum of understanding with US-based Chevron to explore for oil in Dhi Qar (Thi Qar) province.

A person familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that the deal would formalise Chevron’s interest in exploring the eastern and western parts of Nasiriyah, the capital of Dhi Qar.

More here.

(Source: Bloomberg)

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Iraq “The Best Place on Earth to find and Produce Oil”

By John Lee.

Petrel Resources has said that its operations in Iraq, which had been dormant for some time, are “once again showing life“.

In its Preliminary Results for the Year Ended 31/12/19, the company said:

“Our Iraqi, director, Riadh, is actively promoting our ongoing interest in participating in the development of the many oil opportunities in Iraq. It remains the best place on earth to find and produce oil.

“The political situation is finally stabilising. We have reconnected with people who assisted us between 1999 – 2010 when we were active in the country. Though only a small company, we have a track record in Iraq, we worked there for more than a decade and have a wealth of data on the oil geology of the country.

“We are hopeful that we will get an opportunity to play a part in developing the oil industry.”

(Source: Petrel Resources)

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Iraq’s Oil-Rig Count Tumbles

By John Lee.

Iraq’s oil-rig count has reportedly fallen by almost two-thirds this year.

Iraqi sources told S&P Global Platts that the total now averages 32 rigs operated by IOCs this month, down from 88 rigs in December 2019.

Federal Iraq is averaging 31 rigs this month, compared with 76 in December, while the Iraqi Kurdistan is averaging only one rig in May compared with 12 in December.

The reductions come after international oil companies were ordered to cut spending because of the oil-price crash.

More here.

(Source: S&P Global Platts)