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Baker Hughes to Boost Gas Production at Nassiriya and Gharraf

By John Lee.

US-based Baker Hughes has reportedly signed a contract with state-owned Dhi Qar Oil Company (DQOC) to increase production of associated gas at the Nassiriya and Gharraf [Garraf] (pictured) oilfields.

Anwar Hadi Shiaa, a director of the DQOC, told the state-controlled Iraqi News Agency that the company aims to increase the gas production from 20 million standard cubic feet to 200 million standard cubic feet at the two oilfields “in the coming period.”

He added that a contract has been made with Baker Hughes, in cooperation with the South Gas Company (SGC), which wil lead to an 80-percent increase in production.

(Source: INA)

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Dana Gas: “Strong Operational and Financial Performance”

Dana Gas PJSC has announced its financial results for the half year ended 30 June 2022.

In the first six months of the year, the Company generated a net profit of AED 407 million ($111mm) or 5.8 fils per share, an 82% increase compared to an adjusted net profit (excluding reversal of impairment) of AED 225 million ($61mm) in H 1 2021.

The gains in Dana Gas’s profitability in the first half were driven by elevated hydrocarbon prices, the Company’s continued commitment to maintaining a low-cost base and strong operational performance in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI).

The Company’s revenue for the first six months of the year increased 31% to AED 1,041 million ($284mm) as compared to AED 792 million ($216mm) in H1 2021 and its operating costs dropped 16%. The Company’s realized prices during the first half of the year averaged $87/bbl for condensate and $44/boe for LPG compared to $48/bbl and $32/boe respectively in H1 2021.

Despite the challenging security situation, the Company’s current operations in the KRI have continued uninterrupted. Production from the KRI increased 1% in the first half and the KM250 expansion project has progressed well. During the first half, drilling of the project’s first development well was completed, and drilling operations for the second well are currently in progress. Whilst EPC construction work on KM 250 was suspended in June amid heightened security concerns, the Company is working with the authorities to address security concerns and to resume construction.

Given the strong operational and financial performance the Board expects to maintain its semi-annual dividend payment in keeping with the Company’s dividend policy.   The interim dividend will be decided by the Board at its meeting in September.

Dr Patrick Allman-Ward (pictured), CEO of Dana Gas, commented:

“Dana Gas delivered strong half year results, supported by our robust operational performance, low cost base and favourable energy market conditions. Despite an increased uncertainty around the global economy amid high inflation, the outlook for the remainder of 2022 is still encouraging with both energy prices and demand remaining high.”

Operations & Production

The Group’s overall production in H1 2022 was  61,100 boepd, a 5% reduction from 64,000 boepd in H1 2021. This was due to a 9% production drop in Egypt mainly as a result of natural field decline. Production output in the KRI increased by 1%, with production averaging 34,500 boepd in H1 2022 versus 34,300 in H1 2021.

Operations have continued as normal during the period. Heightened uncertainty in the region and subsequent precautionary security measures have impacted the Khor Mor expansion project. As a result, the KM250 project remains on temporary suspension. The Company and its partners are working closely with the KRG to address all concerns and all parties remain committed to implementing the expansion project and resume construction activities as soon as possible.

Liquidity and Collections

The Company’s cash position at the end of H1 2022 stands AED 759 million ($207mm) including AED 436 million ($119mm) held at the Pearl level.

The Group collected a total of AED 660 million ($180 mm) during the H1 2022, with the KRI and Egypt contributing AED 495 million ($135mm) and AED 165 million ($45mm) respectively.

(Source: Dana Gas)

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Iraq committed to Renewable Energy

By John Lee.

The Minister of Oil, Ihsan Abdul-Jabbar Ismail, has said that Iraq is committed to reducing carbon emissions through implementing a number of gas investment projects and developing gas fields, as well as projects to produce solar energy.

At a conference in Iraq under the title “Pathways for a lower carbon future for Iraq“, GE presented an integrated roadmap to support the energy transition sector in Iraq by focusing on specific areas, which include:

  1. Use of associated gas for power generation: Iraq can benefit from associated gas to generate more than 13 gigawatts of power, which would meet the needs of up to 15 million houses in the country;
  2. Converting simple cycle (SC) to combined cycle (CC): Converting electric power plants from simple to combined cycle can help enhance their efficiency by up to 50%, and decrease emissions intensity by 35%. GE estimates that if this solution applied to 19 different sites, it can provide approximately 5.3 kilowatts of additional power over a  4 -year period without burning additional fuel;
  3. Use of  hydrogen for power generation, and deploying post combustion carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies: Use of hydrogen as a fuel for power plants and/or adoption CCS solutions in the future can decrease emissions rates to near zero levels in the long term. GE has more than 100 units around the world that are fully or partially hydrogen-powered and collectively clocked more than 8 million man-hours. Many of GE model B, E and F turbines in Iraq can also be modified to run on 100% hydrogen in their operations.

The conference included a presentation of a short film entitled “Renewable Energy – Our Way to Protect the Environment“, prepared by the Media Office of the Ministry of Oil, and another film prepared by General Electric Company about the company and the energy transition.

The conference was attended by a number of Advisers to the Prime Minister, Directors General of the Ministry of Oil affiliates, and a number of specialists and experts in the field of clean energy.

(Source: Ministry of Oil)

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Shell “in talks” to boost Iraq’s Gas Production

By John Lee.

Shell is reported to be in talks with Iraq to boost Basra Gas Company‘s capacity.

According to S&P Global Platts, BGC is planning to increase capacity for gas production from 1 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) now to 1.4 Bcf/d in two years; discussions with Shell could see that increase further to 2 Bcf/d.

A statement in May from Iraq’s Ministry of Oil said that Iraq will invest $3 billion in BGC over the next five years, increasing gas production capacity from 1 Bcf/d to 1.4 Bcf/d this year, and further to 2.4 Bcf/d by 2025.

Shell is also said to be continuing negotiations with Iraq over the giant Nibras [Nebras] petrochemical plant, which was initially agreed in 2015.

More here.

(Source: S&P Global Platts)

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Iraq to Invest $3bn in Basra Gas Company

By John Lee.

Iraq’s Oil Minister, Ihssan Abdul-Jabbar Ismail (pictured), has said that Iraq will invest $3 billion in the Basra Gas Company (BGC) over the next five years, as it pushes ahead with plans to increase gas production.

The money will fund projects intended to increase BGC’s gas production capacity from 1,000 to 1,400 million standard cubic feet per day this year, and further to 2,400 million standard cubic feet per day by 2025.

There will also be an increase this year in the quantities of LPG, up from 30,000 tons to 70,000 per month.

(Source: Ministry of Oil)

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Dana Gas Resumes $600m Expansion in Iraq

Dana Gas and its partner Crescent Petroleum have announced the full resumption of the expansion project at the Khor Mor field in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), which the companies jointly operate on behalf of the Pearl Petroleum consortium.

The KM250 expansion involves further investment of US$600 million to add 250 million cubic feet per day of much-needed additional gas production to supply the local power stations. The project construction work had been put on hold due to the COVID pandemic but is now on track for a new target start date of April 2023, after agreement to lift the force majeure with both the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the contractor [Exterran].

Under a Gas Sales agreement signed in March 2019 with the KRG Ministry of Natural Resources, Pearl Petroleum will sell the additional quantities of gas to supply the power stations with affordable and environmentally cleaner fuel, and further enhance electricity supplies. Today over 80% of the KRI’s electricity generation is enabled by the gas produced by the companies.

Current production at the Khor Mor field is 440 million cubic feet per day of natural gas as well as 15,700 barrels per day of condensate and 1,020 tonnes of liquified petroleum gas (LPG), or a total of 110,400 barrels of oil equivalent (boe) per day, making it the largest overall producer in the KRI and the largest private sector upstream gas operation in Iraq. After the KM250 train, there are plans to add a further KM500 train which would take production to almost 1 billion cubic feet per day by 2024.

Total investment to date exceeds US$2 billion with total cumulative production of over 332 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe), which has resulted in significant fuel cost savings and economic benefits for the Kurdistan Region and Iraq as a whole. In addition 43 million tonnes of CO2 emissions have been eliminated by displacing liquid fuels, which in turn has made a positive contribution to tackling global climate change as well as reducing local air pollution.

Mr. Majid Jafar, CEO of Crescent Petroleum and Board Managing Director of Dana Gas, commented:

“After a year of delay due to the COVID pandemic, we are pleased to fully resume the KM250 expansion project to invest US$600 million and grow the gas production almost 60% within 2 years from now, supporting the local electricity provision even further. Despite the challenges the whole world has faced over the past year we have kept our operations safe and managed to grow production and we are grateful to all our staff and to the KRG for its support.”

Dr. Patrick Allman-Ward, CEO of Dana Gas, added:

“With our partners in Pearl Petroleum we are proud to be investing further in the gas sector of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, delivering a reliable source of cleaner energy, and supporting local economic development. The continuing receipt of payments in a timely manner gives confidence for our continued investment commitment as we enter the next exciting phase of growth with the Khor Mor expansion, which will be carried out under strict health protocols to ensure the safety of our staff and service providers.”

(Source: Dana Gas)

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Chinese Company to Develop Iraq’s Mansuriyah Gas Field

By John Lee.

The Chinese company Sinopec (China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation) has won a contract to develop the Mansuriyah gas field in Diyala.

The field, near the Iranian border, is expected to produce 300 million standard cubic feet (Mmscf) per day of gas, which will be used for electricity generation.

In 2010, an agreement had been signed for the field to be developed by Turkish Petroleum (TPAO) (37.5%), Iraqi Oil Exploration Company (25%), Kuwait Energy (KEC) (22.5%), and Kogas (15%). This consortium stopped development in 2014 due to security concerns, and the agreement was reportedly cancelled in 2020.

Under the new 25-year deal agreed on Tuesday, Sinopec will have a 49-percent interest in the field, with Iraq’s state-owned Midland [Middle, Central] Oil Company having 51 percent.

The contract may be extended for an additional five years.

According to the Ministry of Oil, Sinopec’s bid was he lowest submitted.

(Source: Ministry of Oil)

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Iraq to Exploit Massive Natural Gas Reserves

Iraq Moves To Exploit Its Massive Natural Gas Reserves

Writing in Oil Price, Simon Watkins says that despite Iraq’s huge potential gas resources, it has made little progress on developing this potential either for associated or non-associated gas.

But last week, a heads-of-agreement deal was announced with Total, to work jointly on four major projects that include developing the associated gas sector.

Click here to read the full story.

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Khor Mor Gas Plant reaches Record Production

Dana Gas has announced the production of sales gas from Pearl Petroleum‘s Khor Mor Gas Plant in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) reached a new record level of 430MMscf/d on 15 December 2020.

Fourth quarter’s average gas production as of 15 December 2020 is 400MMscf/d, an 8% increase on Q4 2019’s average production of 370MMscf/d.

Pearl Petroleum has also restarted expansion plans in the KRI on the 15 December. This follows the suspension of work in March 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions. All parties working on the project are fully committed to executing the expansion project as quickly and as safely as possible.

The Company expects to complete the first 250 MMscf/d gas processing train in Q1 2023 and is also examining ways to reduce the schedule further.

In line with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) commitment to review the outstanding December 2019 to February 2020 invoices totalling $30 million, Dana Gas notes Pearl Petroleum’s confirmation of receipt of a payment plan proposal from the KRG to pay down past receivables during 2021 as long as Brent remains above $50/bbl.

Pearl Petroleum continues to engage constructively with the KRG on this matter to ensure timely payment. The KRG has maintained regular monthly payments since March 2020.

Dr Patrick Allman-Ward, CEO of Dana Gas, commented:

“Our joint operations at Pearl Petroleum continue to set new records with production output whilst maintaining an excellent HSSE track record, validating our long-term strategy to concentrate on further developing our world-class fields in the KRI. We are getting tremendous support from the KRG, which has given us the green-light to restart the civil engineering works under strict health protocols and controls.

“This clears a major hurdle and puts us on a path for first gas from the new train in Q1 2023. I am also pleased to provide an update on our Q4 average gas production, which is 8% higher at 400MMscf/d than in the same period last year.

“In addition, our commitment and contribution to the people of the KRI remains as strong as ever. Our partnership is now in its 12th year. 2020 has been very challenging due to the restrictions imposed by the global pandemic but the team has worked tirelessly to keep our operations ongoing throughout the year, adhering to strict health and safety protocol to ensure the continuous flow of gas to power the KRI’s electricity needs.”

(Source: Dana Gas)

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Dana Gas announces Record Gas Deliveries for Khor Mor

By John Lee.

UAE-based Dana Gas has announced that the production of sales gas from Pearl Petroleum‘s Khor Mor Gas Plant in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) reached a record level of 418MMscf/d on 18 November 2020.

Dana Gas, which owns a 35% stake in Pearl Petroleum, registered a 6% year on year increase in production during the third quarter of 2020 to 32,400 boepd, driven by the completion of a new plant bypass project in August.

Dr Patrick Allman-Ward, CEO of Dana Gas, commented:

“We are very pleased that Pearl Petroleum has achieved this important milestone at Khor Mor, which is the result of our continued efforts to maximise plant production. This important achievement, delivered under difficult conditions due to the global pandemic, was the result of the installation of the plant bypass in August combined with an increase in gas demand due to seasonal weather conditions.

“It is also testament to the tireless efforts of our staff at the plant to optimise plant efficiencies and reliability.

“We are also very pleased to announce that after a delay in the implementation of the first 250 MMscf/d gas processing train following border closures and travel restrictions resulting from COVID-19, that we anticipate recommencing civil engineering works on location in the next few weeks.

“All the parties working on the Khor Mor project are fully committed to executing the expansion project as quickly and as safely as possible. We now expect first gas from the project’s first gas processing train in Q1 2023 and we are also examining ways to reduce the schedule further. When implemented, the project is expected to add between $175 million and $200 million annually to Dana Gas’s revenues.“

(Source: Dana Gas)

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