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Petrel to submit proposals to Incoming Iraqi Administration

By John Lee.

Petrel Resources has said its Iraqi business is being “re-galvanised” (sic), with data bases being updated, and updated proposals submitted to the incoming administration.

In its audited results for the year ended 31st December 2021, the company said it is strengthening its Iraqi team, and has invested heavily in the training and development of its Iraqi staff.

It adds that its Iraqi Director, Riadh Ani, has maintained strong relationships with Ministry of Oil officials, being “highly regarded as the son of one of the most successful drillers in history: his father Mahmoud Ahmed had run Iraq’s North Oil Company, and also the State Iraqi Drilling Company.”

More here.

The company claims to have an interest in Iraq’s Block 6 in the Western Desert, subject to ratification.

(Source: Petrel Resources)

The post Petrel to submit proposals to Incoming Iraqi Administration first appeared on Iraq Business News.

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KRG Denies seizing control of Oil Fields

By John Lee.

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has denied seizing the Bai Hassan and Dawd Gurg oil fields in Kirkuk from the Iraqi federal government’s Ministry of Oil.

On Saturday, the North Oil Company (NOC), which is owned by the Iraqi National Oil Company (INOC), claimed that the KRG took over the fields in what it said was a contravention of Iraqi law.

The KRG has issued a statement saying the claims are, “completely untrue and are aimed at sowing discord.“

Bai Hassan was originally controlled by the Ministry of Oil (Baghdad), but seized by KRG forces in July 2014. It was subsequently returned to Baghdad (NOC) control in 2017.

(Sources: NOC, KRG)

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Petronas opens New Well at Garraf Field

By John Lee.

Petronas Carigali Iraq Holding B.V. has opened its K-123 well in the Garraf Contract Area in Dhi Qar.

Present at the event were, Petronas Vice President International Assets of Upstream Mr. M Jukris A Wahab; Director, Managing Executive Officer and President of Middle East, Asia & Europe Project Division of Japex, Mr. Toshiyuki Hirata; and Petronas Iraq Country Chairman, Mr. Norafizal Mat Saad.

The field is operated by Petronas (45%), Japex Garraf Ltd (30%), and North Oil Company (25%). (Japex Garraf Ltd is owned as follows: Japex 55%, Mitsubishi Corporation 10%, and JOGMEC 35%).

(Source: Petronas)

The post Petronas opens New Well at Garraf Field first appeared on Iraq Business News.

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Sonangol meets with INOC to discuss Production at Qayara

By John Lee.

The President of the Iraqi National Oil Company (INOC), Oil Minister Ihsan Abdul-Jabbar Ismail, has chaired a meeting with the CEO and management of Angola’s Sonangol, the main operator of the Qayara [Qayyarah] oil field in Nineveh Governorate.

Also joining the meeting was the management of the North Oil Company (NOC) and the Department of Oil Contracts and Licensing.

The meeting included discussion on increasing production and improving quality at Qayara.

(Source: Ministry of Oil)

The post Sonangol meets with INOC to discuss Production at Qayara first appeared on Iraq Business News.

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New Oil Refinery announced for Qayara

By John Lee.

Iraq’s North Oil Company (NOC) has signed a Heads of Agreement (Memorandum of Understanding) with two energy companies to build a 70,000-barrels-per-day oil refinery in Qayara (Qayyarah).

The facility, Nineveh province, is to be built by Sweden’s SEAB and Turkey’s Limak.

No information was given regarding the size of the investment or the proposed schedule.

(Source: Ministry of Oil)

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Terrorist Attack on Bai Hassan Oil Field

By John Lee.

A terrorist attack on the Bai Hassan oilfield in Kirkuk early on Wednesday has caused casualties and damage.

A statement from the Ministry of Oil said that wells 177 and 183 were bombed, and “a number of security forces and energy police were killed and wounded“.

The safety and firefighting teams from the North Oil Company (NOC) and the supporting authorities were able to quickly extinguish the fire at well 177, but were still working to control the fire of well 183.

Sources told Reuters that production was not affected.

It’s the second attack on the facility in less than a month; a bomb in April did not result in damage or injury.

(Sources: Ministry of Oil, Reuters)

The post Terrorist Attack on Bai Hassan Oil Field first appeared on Iraq Business News.

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New Contracts for Iraqi Drilling Company (IDC)

By John Lee.

The Iraqi Drilling Company (IDC) has announced its intention to conclude contracts with Chinese and American companies operating in Iraq to drill and rehabilitate dozens of oil wells in the country.

The company indicated it is about to start drilling 20 wells in the Nasiriyah field in Dhi Qar, which are included in a long-term plan with the Dhi Qar Oil Company (DQOC) to advance the oil sector, due to be completed in over two years.

After the relative relaxation of the impacts of the coronavirus, the Iraqi Drilling Company resumed its negotiations with the international companies developing oil fields in the country and their counterparts affiliated with the Ministry of Oil in the provinces, in preparation for signing the postponed contracts with the aim of enhancing Iraq’s energy capabilities.

The drilling and rehabilitation contracts, hoped to be concluded soon, include drilling 37 wells in the Zubair field for the Italian company ENI, the main operator of the field, and starting discussions with BP, the main contractor in the Rumaila field, to develop the giant field west of Basra.

This is in addition to the near signing of a contract to drill 43 wells in Majnoon field with the Basra Oil Company (BOC), which is the third largest oil field in the world, with reserves of 6.12 billion barrels.

The Iraqi Drilling Company has completed all its preparations to sign a contract with the Central Oil Company, to drill 27 wells in the East Baghdad field, and it continues its discussions with the Maysan [Missan] Oil Company (MOC) to sign a contract for drilling 22 wells in the Bazargan field as well as rehabilitating another 150 wells and a contract to operate a number of drilling towers and rehabilitation of a large number of wells in the Kirkuk fields with the North Oil Company (NOC).

(Source: Govt of Iraq)

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BP “Pulls Out” of Kirkuk Oilfield

By John Lee.

BP has reportedly finished its work at Iraq’s giant Kirkuk oilfield.

According to Reuters, sources confirmed that the decision followed the expiration of its $100-million exploration contract at the end of December, at which point there was no agreement on the field’s expansion.

It quotes a source at BP as saying:

“In 2013, BP signed a letter of intent (LOI) with the North Oil Company of the Iraq Ministry of Oil to support field activity studies in Kirkuk. As planned, in December 2019 BP completed field work, studies and recommendations.”

Another source said that the results of the study were “below expectations” and “not encouraging for BP to extend its operations.”

Full report here.

(Source: Reuters)

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Oil Exports slightly down in September

By John Lee.

Iraq’s Ministry of Oil has announced oil exports for September of 107,276,327 barrels, giving an average for the month of 3.576 million barrels per day (bpd), down from the 3.603 million bpd exported in August.

These exports from the oilfields in central and southern Iraq amounted to 103,010,306 barrels, while exports from Kirkuk amounted to 3,166,848 barrels, and from Qayara 877,196 barrels. Exports to Jordan were 221,977 barrels.

Revenues for the month were $6.345 billion at an average price of $59.149 per barrel.

August export figures can be found here.

(Source: Ministry of Oil)