Sulzer appoints Authorized Repair Partner in Iraq

Sulzer, the Swiss-based specialist in pumping solutions, has appointed Al Majal Technical Services (AMTS) as their authorized repair partner in Iraq.

AMTS was founded in 2015 to provide a full spectrum of Oil and Gas services including rotating equipment.

The AMTS workshop, located in North Rumaila, is a 3000 m2 state-of-the-art facility, equipped with a comprehensive set of machine tools and balancing equipment required to maintain and repair rotating machinery of all manufacturers. AMTS is certified according to ISO-9001:2015, ISO 14001:2004, OHSAS 18001:2007, API 6A and API 16A

Sulzer’s engineering and project management expertise together with the local competencies of AMTS strengthen each other’s capability to execute the overhaul, site service, repair and maintenance of pumps, turbines and compression equipment as well as their associated ancillaries.

Both companies are currently jointly engaged in executing service projects in South Iraq.

(Source: Sulzer)

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)

US Firm to Harvest Flare Gas at Nahr Bin Umar

By John Lee.

Oil Minister Jabar Ali al-Luaibi [Allibi, Luiebi] has announced an agreement with an American company to invest in the flare gas associated with the Nahr Bin Umar oil field in Basra governorate.

The Ministry names the company as “Oren”, but Iraq Oil Report identifies it as the Houston-based Orion Gas Processors.

A memorandum of understanding is expected to be signed between the company and the Basrah Gas Company (BGC) in the coming days.

Orion says its “innovative patented and patent-pending technologies extract hydrocarbons from underutilized gas streams, creating stable liquids that may be blended into the oil stream. High extraction yields combined with knowledge-based blending creates superior economics for oil producers over competing technologies.

According to the Ministry, the field produces about 40,000 barrels of crude oil per day (bpd), and 25 MSCF of gas per day.

(Source: Oil Ministry, Iraq Oil Report)

Algeria’s Sonatrach to Invest in Iraq

By John Lee.

Sonatrach, the state-owned Algerian energy company, is to form a joint venture with Iraq to cooperate in the harvesting of associated flare gas.

The will be used for power generation, and in the production of petrochemicals and fertilizers.

The deal was agreed during a visit by Algerian Energy Minister Mustapha Guitouni to Baghdad.

(Source: Oil Ministry)

Saudi, Iraq sign 18 Major Energy Deals

By John Lee.

Saudi Arabian companies have signed 18 agreements with the Iraqi government to jointly develop several key projects in the energy sector.

The statement from the Iraqi Oil Ministry gave little detail, but quotes the Saudi Minister of Energy Khalid Al-Falih as saying that Saudi companies are keen to develop relations with Iraq, adding that several important Saudi companies will open their branches in Iraq to “achieve more bilateral cooperation and expand the size of investments in the sectors of oil, gas, industry, importing, infrastructure and [other sectors].”

According to Reuters, both petrochemical giant Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) and Saudi Arabia’s Industrialization & Energy Services Co (TAQA) are planning to open offices in Iraq.

(Sources: Iraqi Oil Ministry, Reuters)

Agility Center of Excellence Opens in Rumaila

Agility has opened a state-of the-art training facility, known as the Center of Excellence, at the Rumaila Energy Park in southern Iraq.

In partnership with Strategic Analytics Team (SAT), the Center of Excellence offers training courses for the local workforce in the oil and gas industry, led by internationally accredited trainers.

Training covers a wide variety of topics, including health and safety, lifting and hoisting, defensive driving and logistics solutions. With SAT’s expertise in the field of operational logistics, courses will meet international oil and gas industry standards and focus on developing accredited local content, while enhancing the capabilities of Iraq-based contractors.

The Rumaila Energy Park is a one million-square meter, fully serviced industrial park developed by Agility Real Estate to provide a one-stop-shop for companies operating in southern Iraq. The park includes warehouse facilities, workshops, lay-down yards and offices. It is strategically close to the region’s major oil and gas subcontractors.

The inauguration was attended by representatives from oil and gas companies and academic institutions, as well as Iraqi government officials.

Colin Hindley, CEO, Agility Iraq, said:

“The Center of Excellence is part of Agility’s ongoing commitment to building Iraq’s infrastructure and human capital. We are strongly committed to building local capacity in our areas of operations, and this new center is part of this strategy.”

Paul Jorgensen, Senior Partner, Strategic Analytics Team, said:

Our partnership with Agility makes the Center of Excellence the first of its type in the Gulf region. At SAT, we take pride in our knowledge and skills in the logistics business, and we are in a unique position to impart the same to aspiring professionals seeking further development.

“This is a very exciting opportunity for both SAT and Agility. With a fully developed culture of learning in an open environment that enables access to the latest information and technological innovations, we want the Center of Excellence to become the go-to resource for both logistics companies and students.”

Agility Iraq has offices in Basra, Baghdad, and Erbil, serving international airports and the ports of Umm Qasr and Khor Al Zubair.

Agility’s operations include freight forwarding (air, ocean, road), cross-border trucking, customs clearance, project logistics, open yard/warehousing distribution, approved HSSE training and route surveys. All of Agility’s operations in Iraq are ISO 9001, ISO 14000, OHSAS 18001-certified.

(Source: Agility)

ADES Targets Expansion into Iraq

By John Lee.

ADES International Holding, a London-listed company providing oil and gas drilling and production services, has said that it is “scaling existing operations and penetrating new markets through participation in a substantial pipeline of active tenders across the Middle East, in existing geographies as well as the UAE and onshore Iraq.

In its results for the six-month period ending 30th June 2017, it added that management expects a number of these tenders to close during the second half of 2017, with revenue contribution to commence in the first half of 2018.

Additionally, it said it has finalised exclusive marketing agreements with a number of shipyards for the rights to utilise 8 rigs in active tenders; “The agreements enable the Group to obtain new contracts and generate additional revenue without incurring the additional capital expenditure associated with a high-spec rig.

(Source: ADES International)