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.

New Oil Minister takes up Post

By John Lee. The new Oil Minister, Adel Abdul-Mahdi, has taken up his new post at a ceremony at the Ministry of Oil's head office. The new minister thanked his predecessor, Abdul Kareem al-Luaibi [Elaibi], and stressed the importance of the oil sector to Iraq's economy. Eoin O'Cinneide, writing for UpstreamOnline, has speculated that the […]

Oil Discovered at Block 9

By John Lee. Shares in Dragon Oil closed up 0.2 percent on Wednesday following the discovery of oil at Block 9. Kuwait Energy, Dragon Oil's partner in Block 9, issued the following update on the exploration well, Faihaa-1, being drilled in the block: Kuwait Energy announces that the consortium comprised of Kuwait Energy (70% and […]

Iran-Iraq Gas Pipeline Completed

By John Lee. The Iranian Fars News Agency has reported that construction of Iran-Iraq gas pipeline, which runs to the Al-Mansoureh power plant in Iraq, is now complete. A source told the news agency that supply of Iranian gas along the 48-inches-diameter pipeline should have started already but has been delayed due to the unrest […]

The New Oil Production Targets

By Ahmed Mousa Jiyad. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The New Oil Production Targets, New Terms and Implications Most petroleum professionals, including myself, had expressed their serious doubt about the suitability, attainability and sustainability of oil production plateau targets for many […]

Genel Operations Return to Normal

By John Lee. Genel Energy has announced that, following a significant improvement in the security situation in the border region of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq ('KRI'), it has begun the process of returning staffing levels to normal. This follows the temporary and precautionary step of withdrawing non-essential personnel from non-producing assets. Genel said its […]

Revised Production Target for Rumaila

By John Lee. BP has reportedly finalised its revised contract for Iraq's giant Rumaila oilfield, cutting the final production target from 2.85 million barrels per day (bpd) to 2.1 million bpd. According to Reuters, officials from BP and Iraq's oil ministry signed the amendment to the existing contract in a closed-door meeting at Rumaila on […]

Halfaya Oil Targets Reduced

By John Lee. The Missan Oil Company has announced an agreement with the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) to reduce the final production target for the Halfaya oilfield from 535.000 barrels per day (bpd) to 400.000 bpd. As a result, production will be extended from 20 years to 30 years. CNPC has a 37.5 percent […]

Repairing Baiji Refinery to take more than a Year

By John Lee. The KRG's Minister of Natural Resources, Ashti Hawrami, has said repairs to the Baiji refinery will take more than a year, following attacks by militants of the Islamic State in June. According to the report from NINA, he also confirmed that shipment of oil through the pipeline linking Kirkuk and the Turkish […]

Kurds Re-start Crude Oil Export to Iran

By John Lee. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has reportedly resume the export of oil by truck to Iran. Iran closed its border crossings with the KRG for Kurdish crude oil exportation early last month. (Source: BASNEWS)

Kurdish Oil Income Reaches $4bn

By Patrick M Schmidt. The Kurdish Natural Resource Committee has announced that sales of Kurdish crude oil have exceeded $4 billion over the past year. Current crude export figures hover between 120,000 to 150,000 barrels of oil per day. That crude is then piped up to Turkish ports for export. The committee also confirmed that […]

ShaMaran Restarts Drilling at Atrush

By John Lee. ShaMaran Petroleum has announced the resumption of drilling operations on the Atrush block in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Drilling operations at the Chiya Khere-8 development well were suspended for a total of 21 days by TAQA (the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company), operator of the Atrush Block, as a precautionary measure, […]

Oryx Resumes Kurdistan Operations

By John Lee. Oryx Petroleum has announced an update for its operations in the Hawler license area of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Commenting today, Oryx Petroleum´s Chief Executive Officer, Michael Ebsary (pictured), stated: “We are very pleased that tangible improvements to the security environment in the Kurdistan Region have enabled us to resume all […]