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Chinese Consortium wins $594m Iraq Oil Processing Contract

By John Lee.

Kuwait Energy Basra Limited (KE Basra), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Kong-based United Energy Group (UEG), has entered into the EPCC (engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning) contract with a Chinese consortium to provide a central processing facility including oil treatment system and auxiliary systems at Block 9 in Basra.

The contractor is a consortium formed on 31 December 2020 and consisting of China CAMC Engineering and CNOOC Petrochemical Engineering.

According to disclosure documents lodged with the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, the contract price is US$593,584,975 and the work should be completed within 33 months from the date of commencement. (The foundation stone for the project has just been laid).

The main purpose of this central processing facility project is to increase crude oil production capacity of Block 9 to 100,000 barrels per day (bpd).

In its statement to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, UEG added:

“Kuwait Energy Basra Limited is a limited liability company incorporated in British Virgin Islands and an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.

“KE Basra is the operator of the Block 9 contract area located in the Basra Governorate, Southern Iraq, pursuant to the Exploration, Development and Production Service Contract with the contracting parties of Basra Oil Company (an Iraqi State Oil Company), KE Basra, Dragon Oil (Block 9) Limited and Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation.“

(Source: UEG)

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Work Starts at $594m Oil Processing Plant at Block 9

By John Lee.

The President of  the Iraqi National Oil Company (INOC) has laid the foundation stone for the $594-million crude oil processing plant at Block 9, within the Al-Fayha Oil Field in Basra Province.

Ihsan Abdul-Jabbar Ismail said that the development is important for the production of light oil, with a target for this project of up to 100,000 barrels of crude oil per day, along with 135 mmscfd of gas at a future stage for electricity production.

Khaled Hamza, General Manager of Basra Oil Company (BOC), said the development of the field was started in 2014 by Kuwait Energy Company (KEC) and continued by the Chinese company UEG [United Energy Group] which acquired KEC, and that the first exploration well was drilled and the results were encouraging.

He stressed that the oil produced from the exploration Block 9 is one of the best types of oil globally.

The CEO of UEG, Sonk Yu [Song Yu, Chief Operation Officer??], said that laying the foundation stone for the development was an important moment for the company.

(Sources: Ministry of Oil, UEG)

The post Work Starts at $594m Oil Processing Plant at Block 9 first appeared on Iraq Business News.

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Production to Increase at Al Faihaa Oilfield

By John Lee.

Oil production in the Al Faihaa area (Block 9) in Basra is reportedly expected to increase in the coming year with increasing investment.

Dragon Oil CEO Ali Al Jarwan told Oil & Gas Middle East that the company plans to increase production in Iraq to 100,000 barrels per day (bpd) by 2025.

(Source: Oil & Gas Middle East)

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Kuwait Energy may sell Block 9

By John Lee.

Kuwait Energy has reportedly hired an investment bank to advise it on options that could include selling all or part of its Block 9 field in southern Iraq.

Reuters says that Perella Weinberg Partners (PWP) will assist in creating liquidity and a cash buffer to repay debt.

Discussions on a possible merger with UK-listed SOCO International broke down earlier this year.

(Source: Reuters)

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Kuwait Energy signs Block 9 Farm-out Agreement

Kuwait Energy Signs Block 9, Iraq Farm-out Agreement with Dragon Oil

Kuwait Energy (KEC) has announced the signing of the Block 9, Iraq Farm-out Agreement with Dragon Oil (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Emirates National Oil Company Ltd, the national oil company of Dubai).

As per the Farm-out Agreement, Kuwait Energy will assign a 15% participating interest in the Block 9, Iraq service contract comprised of 8.57% participating interest in Block 9, Iraq to Dragon Oil in consideration for US$100 million in cash; and 6.43% participating interest in Block 9, Iraq to Dragon Oil in settlement of a dispute with Dragon Oil in relation to a non-controlling interest in Block 9, Iraq.

The agreement was signed on 11 February 2018 by Ali Rashid al Jarwan, Dragon Oil Chief Executive Officer (CEO); and Abby Badwi, the CEO of Kuwait Energy.

Abby Badawi (pictured), Chief Executive Officer of Kuwait Energy, said:

“This is a great moment for Kuwait Energy and Dragon Oil. The extension of our Block 9 partnership with Dragon Oil has meant that both Companies can work as equal equity partners on the concession allowing us to best utilise our joint technical expertise in delivering the submission of the Block 9 full field development plan to the Iraqi government.

“The reduction in future Block 9 capital expenditure exposure coupled with the material cash injection strengthens Kuwait Energy liquidity position going forward.“

The assignment of the 15% participating interest in Block 9, Iraq from Kuwait Energy to Dragon Oil remains subject to Iraqi government and partner approval. Post granting of these approvals, Kuwait Energy will remain the operator with a reduction in participating interest from 60% to 45%,

Dragon Oil participating interest will increase from 30% to 45% with the remaining 10% participating interest being held by Egyptian General Petroleum Company.

(Source: Kuwait Energy)

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Kuwait Energy plans New Wells in Iraq

By John Lee.

Kuwait Energy has said that by focusing on its Iraqi operations, it is protected against oil price fluctuations, allowing it to sustain growth and a strong balance sheet even under volatile market conditions.

In its Financial Statement for 1st Half 2017, the company says:

“Our finances reflect the continued growth in the Company’s operations, and although global oil prices fell by around 20% in the second quarter of the year we remained profitable, a testimony to our naturally hedged Iraqi production, which continues to increase, reflected in the 47% increase in revenues – in comparison to the same period last year – and a healthy cash balance in excess of US$67.0 million …

“In Iraq, we are paid regularly in the form of assigned crude shipments. The increase in our Iraqi production is now enabling us to take larger crude liftings than before. With the additional wells coming on stream over the coming months, these shipments will be more frequent adding to our cashflow growth. We are currently loading our largest Iraqi crude shipment and expect to receive the payment before the end of October 2017.“

The company has interests in Mansuriya, Siba, and Block 9.

(Source: Kuwait Energy)

(Picture: Sara Akbar, CEO, Kuwait Energy)