Iraqi Oil Minister pushes Development of Eridu Oil Field

By John Lee.

Iraq’s Minister of Oil, Ihsan Abdul Jabbar Ismail, has stressed the importance of developing the Eridu (Arido) oilfield in Block 10, which is in the Muthanna and Dhi Qar provinces.

This came during a meeting with Lukoil‘s Vice President for Central Asia, Middle East, and North African affairs, Stepan Gorgi, and his accompanying delegation.

The Minister said that the ministry is awaiting the approval of the Council of Ministers of the joint development program for the field, commending the technical study of Lukoil.

He added the need to continue the development of West Qurna 2 field, and commended the cooperation between the Ministry and Lukoil to develop oil and energy sector.

The meeting was attended by the Senior Vice President of National Oil Company (INOC), Hamid Younis, the Director General of Petroleum Contracts and Licensing Directorate (PCLD), Ali Maarij. On the Russian side, the meeting was attended by Lukoil General Manager, Alexey Yakovlev, and the 10th block project manager, Edward Tcheloyansh, and vice manager of Iraq branch, manager of Lukoil reprentative office in Baghdad, Resan Sednavi.

(Source: Ministry of Oil)

The post Iraqi Oil Minister pushes Development of Eridu Oil Field first appeared on Iraq Business News.

Block 10 More Attractive for Lukoil than West Qurna 2

Writing in Oil Price, Simon Watkins points out that the $5.99-per-barrel remuneration that Lukoil will receive under its technical service contract at Block 10 is considerably better than its $1.15/barrel payment at West Qurna 2.

Block 10 includes the Eridu field, which has indicated oil reserves of between 7 and 12 billion barrels, and a proposed peak production rate of 250,000 barrels per day (bpd).

Lukoil has a 60-percent stake in Block 10, with Inpex owning 40 percent.

Click here to read the full article.

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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)

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Jordanian Firm to build Shatrah General Hospital

By John Lee.

The Iraqi Ministry of Health has signed the contract for the construction of the Shatrah General Hospital, in Dhi Qar governorate.

Acting Minister of Health, Dr. Hani Al-Uqabi, signed the contract with a Jordanian company to build the 200-bed facility, with fund including a loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The hospital will serve a population of approximately 400,000 people.

(Source: General Secretariat for the Council of Ministers)

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LUKoil files Development Plan for Iraq’s Eridu Oilfield

By John Lee.

Russia’s LUKoil and Japan’s Inpex Corporation have applied to Iraq’s state-owned Dhi-Qar Oil Company (DQOC) for what Lukoil describes as “commerciality of reserves“, and filed a preliminary proposal on the development of the Eridu oil field within Block-10.

According to Lukoil, geological exploration has proved significant reserves, making Eridu the largest discovery in Iraq in the last twenty years.

Oil Minister Ihsan Abdul Jabbar told the Iraqi News Agency (INA), that “the results of the exploration for the Arido field are good … Lukoil requested an extension of the period to obtain greater reserves.

The Eridu field was discovered in 2016. Preliminary expectations based on studies presented by the Lukoil indicate oil reserves of between 7 and 12 billion barrels, and a proposed peak production rate of 250,000 barrels per day (bpd).

Lukoil has a 60-percent stake in Block 10, with Inpex owning 40 percent.

(Sources: Lukoil, INA, Ministry of Oil)

The post LUKoil files Development Plan for Iraq’s Eridu Oilfield first appeared on Iraq Business News.

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)

Chinese Companies Win Al-Faw Projects

By John Lee.

Iraq’s Ministry of Oil has awarded the Al Faw [Al Fao] refinery and petrochemicals project to two Chinese companies.

In a statement, the ministy named the companies as Power China and “Nerco Chinese Companies“.

Mr. Assim Jihad, the spokesman of the Ministry,  said the refinery will have a capacity is 300,000 barrels/day.

He added that the project contains an integrated complex for petrochemicals, in addition to another facilities near the export port in Faw.

The ministry is planning to become self-sufficient in oil products by investing in the refining sector, and to become an exporting country.

Invitations will soon be issued to investment companies to participate in the Anbar refinery (150,000 bpd), Qayara refinery (10,000 bpd), and Thi-Qar [Dhi Qar] refinery (150,000 bpd), in addition to other projects to be announced soon.

(Source: Ministry of Oil)