Iraq Business News brings you the latest information on developments and opportunities in the oil and gas industry in Iraq.
Afren, one of the 250 biggest companies listed on the London Stock Exchange, in conjunction with operator Hunt Oil, has commenced exploration drilling at the East Simrit prospect located on the Ain Sifni PSC in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. The Simrit-3 well is located approximately 10 km east of the successful Simrit-2 discovery well, […]
WesternZagros Resources Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:WZR) ("WesternZagros" or "the Company") is pleased to provide an operational update for its Kurdamir and Garmian Blocks and a corporate update. KURDAMIR BLOCK Kurdamir-2 Exploration Well Testing of three separate intervals within the approximate 500 metres of gross pay in the Cretaceous reservoir commenced on July 28, 2012. However, the […]
As senior politicians in Baghdad get more enraged about oil majors circumventing them to make "illegal" oil deals with Kurdistan in the north of the country, Iraqi newspaper Azzaman believes the oil majors have finally got the message, or have at least started to take it seriously. Just 50 companies have attended an oil expo […]
Oslo-based DNO International has struck more recoverable oil in the northern Kurdistan region of Iraq. The find is at its Benenan-3 well at around 2,000 meters. The company is investigating the discovery further. The find adds to its wells in the Tawke fields, one of which is set to spud in October, which will help […]
Iraq continues to grow its oil production at a good pace. Having recently breached the three million barrels of oil in a day mark, it is now averaging over a month 2.6m b/d, the most in three decades, according to Falah Alamri, the head of the State Oil Marketing Organisation. With Iran's oil production having stalled recently, […]
By John Lee. Baghdad and Erbil both have too much at stake not to settle their dispute over oil, although they may take a year or so to do it, Genel Energy Chief Executive Tony Hayward (pictured) told Reuters. "The scale of the opportunity for Kurdistan and for Iraq is so large that there will […]
By John Lee. The Energy Committee of Maysan's Provincial Council has announced the discovery of an oil field in Ezair district, 70 km southwest of the city of Amara (pictured). The Committee's Chairman, Amer Nasrallah, told NINA that an exploratory well had been drilled to a depth of 4,260 meters at the Deemeh field, and […]
By John Lee. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has extended its deadline for the federal government to pay the money it says it is due in respect of oil exports to 15th September, after which time it will again halt exports of Kurdish crude. Baghdad, on the other hand, has threatened to trim Erbil's budget […]
By John Lee. Iraq's central government is considering trimming federal budget payments to the country's Kurdistan by more than $3 billion to cover losses it says came from the autonomous region's oil exports, reports Reuters. Ali al-Moussawi, advisor to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, said a committee found losses of more than $3 billion resulting from […]
By John Lee. An Iraqi Oil Ministry spokesman has said the Ministry will make future energy exploration contracts more lucrative, to encourage foreign firms to compete in auctions for exploration blocks. "Economic and financial aspects will be reviewed in light of our experiences", said Assem Jihad. "The final details of the contracts will be worked […]
By John Lee. Iraq’s oil exports rose to an average of 2.565 million bpd in August, up from 2.516 million bpd in July, the highest level in two decades (according to NINA), or highest in three decades (according to Reuters). Spokesman for the Ministry of Oil, Asem Jihad, said that Iraq's daily export of oil […]
By John Lee. Iraq’s GDP is expected to grow by 33% over the next three years, according to a report from Reuters. The average rate of about 10% per annum over the next three years will be driven by increased oil revenues, Mudher Kasim, deputy governor of the central bank, told Reuters in an interview. […]
