Archive | Iraq Oil & Gas News

Iraq Business News brings you the latest information on developments and opportunities in the oil and gas industry in Iraq.

CNOOC to Explore Offshore in Iraq

By John Lee. The China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) is to press ahead with oil exploration at a 530-km2 offshore block in Basra. Originally agreed in 2019, the work had been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In parallel, Iraq's state-owned Oil Exploration Company (OEC) will carry out seismic surveys on the adjoining 120-km2 […]

Honeywell to Modernize Iraqi Refinery

By John Lee. Honeywell has announced that the Lanaz refinery (pictured) in Erbil will use its technology to upgrade its operations so it can produce more cleaner-burning transportation fuels. It says the project marks the first use of its UOP modular technology in Iraq, and will help Lanaz comply with increasingly strict specifications for fuel […]

China "the Only Winner" in this Huge Iraqi Oil Field

Writing in Oil Price, Simon Watkins that the recent approval of the Iraqi National Oil Company (INOC)'s acquisition of ExxonMobil's 32.7 percent stake in the West Qurna 1 oil field is likely to leave China delighted, the U.S. irritated, and Iraq's oil industry still unable to achieve any of its key oil output goals. Click […]

Dana Gas achieves 50% Gas Production Growth in 3 yrs

Dana Gas and its partner, Crescent Petroleum, have reported record sales gas production from their operations in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), reaching 452 million cubic feet of gas per day (MMscf/d) at the end of 2021. The production milestone is the culmination of numerous process improvements at the Khor Mor gas plant, including […]

CFO of Genel Energy to Step Down

Genel Energy announced on Tuesday that Esa Ikaheimonen (pictured), Chief Financial Officer, has advised the Board of his intention to leave the company on 16 March 2022, following the announcement of the Company's 2021 financial results the day before. In a statement, the company said that a search for a suitable replacement is ongoing and […]

Iraq to buy Exxon stake in West Qurna 1

By John Lee. The Iraqi cabinet has agreed to allow the Basra Oil Company (BOC) to take over ExxonMobil's holding in the West Qurna 1 oilfield, at a price of up to $350 million. Addressing media after Wednesday's cabinet meeting, Minister of Communications Arkan Al-Shaibani (pictured) said the cabinet also allocated an initial payment of […]

Genel Suspends Drilling Ops on QD-2 well at Qara Dagh

Genel Energy has announced that drilling operations on the QD-2 well at Qara Dagh (40% working interest and operator) have been suspended. As previously stated, the well had been side-tracked in response to encountering more complex geology above the target reservoir than expected. Two further side-tracks have been initiated, but the licence partners have now […]

Jiyad: Iraq's Oil Licensing Rounds, Ten Years On

By Ahmed Mousa Jiyad. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq Oil Licenses Rounds - Views of the Architect and the Technocrat, Ten Years On Petroleum licensing rounds, 2009-2010, are the most significant and impacting development that took place in post 2003 […]

Iraq Oil Exports Flat for December

By John Lee. Iraq's Ministry of Oil has announced preliminary oil exports for December of 101,579,927 barrels, giving an average for the month of 3.277 million barrels per day (bpd), almost equal to the 3.273 million bpd exported in November. The exports from the oilfields in central and southern Iraq amounted to approximately 98,570,290 barrels; […]

Agreement Signed for Al-Faw Refinery Project

By John Lee. The preliminary principles agreement for the Al-Faw investment refinery project has been signed in Baghdad. The refinery will have a capacity of 300,000 barrels per day, while the petrochemical complex will be able to produce 3 million tons [per annum?]. The Minister of Oil, Ihsan Abdul-Jabbar Ismail, said that this project will […]

Iraq Finalises November Oil Exports

By John Lee. Iraq's Ministry of Oil has announced preliminary oil exports for November of 98,192,317 barrels, giving an average for the month of 3.273 million barrels per day (bpd), up from the 3.120 million bpd exported in October. The exports from the oilfields in central and southern Iraq amounted to approximately 95,860,149 barrels; while […]

Genel Energy appoints new Non-Executive Director

By John Lee. Genel Energy has announced the appointment of Yetik Mert (pictured) as an Independent Non-Executive Director, with immediate effect. Yetik has almost 40 years' technical, commercial, business development, and general management experience, including holding executive and non-executive Directorship roles across the energy utility and industrial sectors in MENA, CEE and the USA. Yetik […]