Iraq Business News brings you the latest information on developments and opportunities in the oil and gas industry in Iraq.
By John Lee. Genel Energy has announced that closing has taken place on its acquisition of the remaining 49 per cent participating interest in the Miran exploration block in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. On 12 November 2012, Genel Energy announced that Heritage Oil issued the Exchange Repayment Notice signifying its intention to repay the […]
By John Lee. Iraq has announced that it has discovered deposits of crude oil equivalent to one billion barrels of oil, following the first exploration work by state-owned firms in almost 30 years. The new oil find in Maysan [Missan] province, near the border with Iran, and could potentially make a significant addition to Baghdad's […]
By John Lee. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki held talks with ExxonMobil chief Rex Tillerson (pictured) on Monday. AFP reports that the meeting was the first between the two since the firm signed an oil exploration agreement with Kurdistan in October 2011, a move which angered Baghdad, which has said the company must choose between its deals with […]
By John Lee. The China Petroleum Pipeline (CPP) company is said to be close to winning a $650-million contract to build a pipeline linking the southern oilfields in Maysan province to the al-Fao [al Faw] storage depots. The chief of state-run Maysan Oil Company, Ali Maarij, told Reuters, that the line will expand the export […]
By John Lee. The Chairman of Russia's LUKoil, Vagit Alekperov, has signed an amendment to the contract to develop the West Qurna-2 oil field with the South Oil Company (SOC). According to the amendment, the 18.75 percent share of the project formerly owned by the Norwegian company Statoil is to be taken over by LUKoil, […]
Advertising Feature Douglas-Westwood conducts comprehensive industry study into Iraq and Kurdistan Drilling and Oilfield Services market 2012-2016 The potential scale of the Iraqi oil sector is unprecedented in modern times, and represents a significant opportunity for the drilling and oilfield service industry. However, limited historical information, coupled with the highly complex political situation make accessing […]
By John Lee. Afren plc's trading statement and operations update includes the following review of its activities in Iraqi Kurdistan. Shares in the company closed up 2.7 percent: Barda Rash Having commenced an extensive testing programme at the BR-1 well in July 2012 and establishing oil rates in excess of 6,000 bopd of 28° to […]
In the first visit by a British Energy Minister to Iraq since 2003, Mark Simmonds MP talks about his trip to Baghdad. (Source: UK FCO)
By John Lee. The CEO of Total, Christophe de Margerie (pictured), is to appear in a Paris court on Monday to fight charges of wrongdoing relating to the United Nations oil-for-food relief program in Iraq. Total, Vitol and 18 individuals, including de Margerie (61), are listed as defendants in the trial over claims the program […]
Genel Energy has issued the following trading and operational update in advance of the Company's 2012 full year results, which are scheduled for release on 28 February 2013. Information contained within this release is un-audited and may be subject to further review. Tony Hayward (pictured), Chief Executive said: "2012 saw a strong production performance and […]
By John Lee. Reuters has reported that BP will undertake work to arrest declining production at the Kirkuk oilfield, in a move that has outraged the Kurdistan Regional Government. Abdul Mahdy al-Ameedi, head of the oil ministry's Petroleum Contracts and Licensing Directorate (PCLD), told The Wall Street Journal that a request has been sent to […]
The Kurdistan Regional Government has issued a strongly-worded statement challenging the policy of the Federal Government and the Ministry of Oil: The Kurdistan Regional Government is proud of the achievements of its oil and gas industry since the fall of the former regime in 2003. It expects the federal government of Iraq to be proud […]
