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.

Iraq Signs Oil Exploration Deal with Lukoil, Inpex

Iraq has signed a deal with Russia's LUKoil, and Inpex Corp of Japan, to explore the 5,500-square-kilometer (2,100 square mile) Block 10 in Muthanna and Dhi Qar province. Under the contract, the two firms must invest at least $100 million and will be paid $5.99 for each barrel of oil equivalent it finds. "This contract represents […]

Pakistan Petroleum Signs Contract for Block 8

By John Lee. Iraq has signed a final contract with Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), giving it the right to explore gas Block 8, covering an area of 6,000 sq km in the Diyala and Wassit provinces in eastern Iraq. During the signing ceremony, Iraq's deputy oil minister, Ahmed al-Shamma, said "developing exploration block 8 could […]

DNO Expects KRG Payment Before Year-End

By John Lee. The Norwegian oil producer DNO International expects the Kurdistan Regional Government to pay the company part of the money it’s owed for exports by the end of the year. In September, Baghdad agreed to pay international companies 1 trillion Iraqi dinars ($858 million) and the KRG has received a first tranche of […]

DNO Taps Additional Oil in Kurdistan

By John Lee. DNO International, the Norwegian oil and gas company, announced today that the Benenan-3 well drilled on its Erbil license, Kurdistan region of Iraq, encountered an additional 210 meter oil column in the Najmeh reservoir which is expected to more than double the Benenan field's gross 2P oil-in-place volumes from 300 million barrels […]

Petroceltic Operations Update

By John Lee. In its operations update this morning, Petroceltic International issued the follow statement on its operation in Iraqi Kurdistan: Geophysical surveying operations at the Shakrok block (Petroceltic 16% working interest) were completed on 21 September 2012, with 276 kilometres of 2D seismic lines acquired. Drilling remains scheduled to commence on Shakrok in Q3 […]

$4bn for New Refinery in Karbala

By John Lee. The Ministry of Oil has allocated $4 billion for the construction of a new refinery in Karbala. According to a report from Azzaman, the 150,000-bpd refinery will take four years to complete and it will be built by Iraqi technicians and engineers under the supervision of a team of international experts. The […]

Turkey Wins $350m Iraq Drilling Contract

By John Lee. Turkey's Energy Minister, Taner Yildiz (pictured), has said the country has signed a $350 million deal to drill 40 oil wells in the Basra area, and is in talks on drilling 7,000 wells across Iraq. Details of the timeframe or companies involved were not immediately available. According to a report from Reuters, […]

Gulf Keystone Resumes Pumping in Kurdistan

By John Lee. According to industry sources cited by reuters, Gulf Keystone has restarted production in Kurdistan after a gap of six months. The company is now producing between 5,000 and 7,000 bpd for sale on the domestic market, and is developing its Shaikan field to raise output to around 40,000 bpd by the middle […]

Petronor Launches Phase 2 of Iraq Energy City (IEC)

By John Lee. Petronor, the Dubai-based international services company, is launching the second phase of Iraq Energy City (IEC), fully equipped international community in Basra, catering to the oil and gas industry. Located 20 minutes from Basra International Airport, IEC offers accommodation and commercial real estate to international companies looking to enter the Iraq market, according […]

Genel Energy Interim Management Statement

Genel Energy has issued its Interim Management Statement for the period from 1 July 2012 to 31 October 2012. Highlights 2012 production guidance increased to c45,000 bopd following the resumption of export sales in August. Sales revenue guidance for 2012 remains unchanged at c $250 - 300 million Following the resumption of exports in August, […]

A Subtle Warning from Eni

By John Lee. Paolo Scaroni, the CEO of Italian oil and gas company Eni, spoke out on Wednesday to complain about the difficulties of doing business in Iraq. "Our adrenaline rush now is not what it was when we entered Iraq", he said ,"[it's] more complex than we first thought." On one hand, we could […]