Iraq could Lose 1.7m bpd Export if Hormuz is Shut

Bloomberg reports that Iraq would lose the capacity to export 1.7 million barrels of crude a day if Iran blocks the Strait of Hormuz. “Iraq will have to depend on the northern route from where it can export 450,000 barrels a day through Turkey’s port of Ceyhan on the Mediterranean,” Oil Ministry spokesman Asim Jihad […]

Iraq Delays Licensing Round Again

Iraq has postponed its next energy licensing round by more than a month to May 30, a senior government official has said. Speaking to Reuters on January 31, Abdul Mahdy al-Ameedi, the Oil Ministry’s Director-General, said the decision to move the date back had been made to allow potential bidders more time to study the […]

DNO Results "Well Above Market Expectations"

Ahead of the full year 2011 operational and financial results to be released on 15 February 2012, DNO International ASA has announced a strong end to the year just ended, well above market expectations. Operating revenue for Q4 2011 was around NOK 900 million and DNO expects to report full year 2011 operating revenue of […]

Weatherford Completes 3 Wells in Bazirgan

The Director General of the Missan Oil Company has announced that Weatherford has finished the drilling of three oil wells in Bazirgan oilfield. The wells, (Bazirgan 30, 31, and 32) are part of a contract to drill 10 production wells and 10 reserve support wells. Weatherford has already completed the drilling of Bazirgan 24, 25, […]

CNOOC Presents Plan for Missan Oilfields

The China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has presented its plan to develop three Maysan oil fields: Bazirgan, Fakka, Abu Gharb. As part of the plan, Weatherford will drill 180 oil wells. And after finishing the review there was a discussion about the plan, and the engineering staff in MOC shared their notes and questions about some […]

Iraq Apprentices Increase Employers' Revenue

The Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED) reports that 93% of entrepreneurs involved in its pilot apprenticeship scheme in Thi Qar [Dhi Qar] Governorate reported satisfaction with it, according to survey results assessing the scheme’s overall economic benefit and impact. Other preliminary findings are similarly positive: 69% of trainer employers reported that they increased […]

Iran Inks $200m Deal to Develop Joint Oilfield with Iraq

Iran’s Petroleum Engineering and Development Company (PEDEC) has reportedly signed a $200 million deal with domestic company Dana Energy to develop the Changooleh oilfield on the Iraqi border. Naji Sadouni, the managing director of the Iranian company told Mehr news agency that the deal aims to produce 15,000 barrels per day of crude oil in […]

Nabucco Future Hangs in the Balance

The Nabucco gas pipeline project is facing collapse, reports AFP. The scheme to ship more than 30 billion cubic meters of gas per year from the Caspian and beyond to Europe, bolstering Europe's energy security, may founder following Turkey's decision to allow Russia's rival South Stream project to run through its Black Sea waters. Construction […]

Fall in Iranian Currency hits Religious Tourism in Iraq

The Iranian currency, the toman, or rial, has lost half its value against the Iraqi dinar in recent weeks following U.S. and European sanctions, according to a report from Azzaman. Iraqi traders welcomed the slump saying it has made the import of Iranian goods much cheaper than before. In the holy cities of Najaf and […]

Basra Welcomes Plans for $100m Waste Plant

The Basra Investment Commission has approved a $100 million waste plant to be built by Dow Chemical's Kuwait branch, according to AKnews. The company, which already has plants in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, will enter Basra and invest in water purification projects and will consider providing environmental solutions, professional consultation and technical services. Waste […]

Iraq Close to Decision on $3bn Power-Plant Projects

Bloomberg reports that Iraq will award seven major electricity generation contracts within the next 2 weeks as part of a three-year plan to expand power capacity. Kosay Sattar, the Electricity Ministry's director general of planning, said companies from Iran, Europe, Egypt and South Korea are bidding for $3 billion of orders to build 7,000 megawatts […]

Majnoon to hit 175,000 bpd by Year-End

Iraq's Majnoon oilfield should be ready to produce 175,000 barrels per day (bpd) by the end of 2012, triggering cost recovery and service fee payments. Iraqi officials say the field could even reach that output, from current production of around 54,000 bpd, by August, depending on pipeline infrastructure, completed wells and also visa delays for […]