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.

Hess, Petroceltic Abandon Dinarta Licence

By John Lee. Irish-based Petroceltic International has announced that it and its partner Hess will abandon their Dinarta licence in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The company told the stock market: "As previously announced on 15 January, drilling operations on the Shireen-1 exploration well in the Dinarta licence (Hess ... (Operator) 64%, Petroceltic 16%, and […]

NYNEX Extends Broadband Coverage

NYNEX satellite OHG, a leading VSAT systems operator and integrator, has grown its capacity contract with Avanti Communications to extend satellite broadband coverage across Iraq and Syria. Following the successful deployment to Afghanistan and Libya over the last two years via Avanti’s HYLAS 2 satellite, the latest contract extension will enable NYNEX to target professional […]

LUKoil Confirms Commitment to Iraq

By John Lee. LUKoil President Vagit Alekperov had a meeting with Iraq’s Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi, and the country’s Minister of Oil, Adel Abdul Mahdi, in Baghdad on March 22. The discussion focused on progress in the development of West Qurna-2 and the future of the field development. “Our company sticks to its plans to […]

Gazprom Neft to Conduct Seismic Survey

Gazprom Neft is to conduct a 2D seismic survey on the south-eastern section of the Halabja block. The technical equipment and personnel required for the survey are currently being transferred from the south-western section, where the company has already successfully completed a survey spanning 225 linear km. 2D seismic surveys covering approximately 870 linear km […]

Kuwait Energy, EGPC Partner on Block 9

By John Lee. Kuwait Energy and Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC), the national oil company of Egypt, have jointly announced the signing of an agreement whereby EGPC has farmed in a 10 percent participating interest in the Block 9 license. The Block 9 field is located in the Basra Governorate, in Southern Iraq. The signing […]

France Considers Projects in Wassit

By John Lee. The French Consul General has reportedly said the French companies are interested in investing in Wassit Wasit] on a deferred payment basis. The Governor of Wassit province, Malik Khalaf, told AIN that during a visit to the province the Consul General discussed infrastructure projects including the building of roads and bridges, the […]

HEESCO Meets Turkish Companies

By John Lee. The director general of the Heavy Engineering Equipment State Company (HEESCO) has held a meeting with a delegation from the Turkish companies ENKA and Gimtas. Mr. Deiaa Gumar said the two companies recognised the capabilities of HEESCO in making equipment for oil refining, production and transportation, and were keen to cooperate with […]

Iraq to Sell Heavy Basra Crude from May

By John Lee. Reuters cites sources as saying that Basra Heavy crude, with an API gravity of 24 degrees, will be sold from May. It will be allocated to companies with technical service contracts, such as Lukoil , Petronas, CNPC, CNOOC, BP, ExxonMobil and Shell. The State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) had previously abandoned plans […]

India Builds Oil Reserves with Basra Crude

By John Lee. India's oil ministry has instructed state refiners Indian Oil Corp and Hindustan Petroleum Corp (HPCL) to buy eight million barrels of Basra crude oil for delivery in May and June. The country is looking to build up its strategic petroleum reserve (SPR) at the current low market prices. A source told Reuters […]

Confusion Reigns in Iraq-Kurd Oil Dispute

This article was originally published by Niqash. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Truth, Lies And Barrels Per Day: Confusion Reigns in Iraq-Kurd Oil Dispute The deal done to resolve Baghdad's issues with Kurdish oil looks shaky. Both sides have presented different oil […]

LUKoil Seeks more Compensation Oil

By John Lee. LUKoil boss Vagit Alekperov (pictured) has reportedly threatened to cut investment in Iraq unless Baghdad offers more oil in return. The Iraqi government reimburses IOCs' costs in physical shipments of oil. LUKoil is a partner in the West Qurna-2 project, and in the development of Block 10. (Source: Reuters)

KRG "can be Self-Sufficient in Months"

By John Lee. Ashti Hawrami (pictured), KRG energy minister, has said that Iraqi Kurdistan is expected to reach financial self-sufficiency from Baghdad within months, despite central government withholding the region’s 17 percent share of budget. Speaking to Rudaw, he outlined plans to increase oil production to 750,000 bpd by the end of this year. In a […]