Energy

Iraqi wartime production cuts reach 3.6 million bpd

Iraq is navigating acute logistical and infrastructure challenges to maximize refinery consumption and exports while the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.

Workers from the state-run Iraqi Drilling Company (IDC) work on a well at the West Qurna 1 field in Basra in March 2026. (Photo credit: IDC)

Dec 20, 2009

Shell and Petronas get closer to Majnoon contract

Representatives of the two oil companies initialed a contract with the Iraqi Oil Ministry Sunday, though now begins the longer process of Council of Ministers approval.

Dec 16, 2009

Unannounced service cuts for Iraqna users

One of the few mobile phone monopolies in Iraq has surprised consumers by cutting off outgoing calls of more than a million users.

Dec 14, 2009

Iraq to rival Saudi oil output, if…

Thanks to two oil auctions, within eight years Iraq may eclipse Saudi Arabia to become the largest oil producer in the world. Many obstacles, however, remain.

Dec 14, 2009

The numbers speak volumes

A breakdown of the expected oil production from the 10 fields Iraq awarded for development to foreign oil companies since June 30.

Dec 13, 2009

Complete Round 2 results

Here's the field by field recap of winners, losers and details of the fields international companies now have deals to develop.

Dec 13, 2009

East Asia and Iraq’s oil winners

A look from Japan into the risk and reward of Japex and Nippon's move toward Iraqi oil wealth.

Dec 13, 2009

Lukoil is back, wins West Qurna

Lukoil is returning to Iraq's West Qurna oil field, which it had a previous contract for developing under Saddam Hussein.

Dec 12, 2009

Sonangol takes Najmah

Sonangol, the sole bidder, takes Najmah oil field for a $6 per barrel remuneration fee and a production target of 110,000 barrels per day. The Najmah field is located in Nineveh province, in between Mosul and Baiji. It was discovered in 1934 and has 33 wells drilled thus far with an estimated 900 million barrels […]

Dec 12, 2009

No bids for Middle Furat fields

No bids have been made for the Middle Furat oil fields. The Middle Furat project is three undeveloped oil fields located in Karbala province, home to one of the holiest cities in Shiite Islam. The Kifl field, discovered in 1960, West Kifl in 1987 and Merjan in 1983, total about 600 million barrels of oil. […]

Dec 12, 2009

Gazprom wins in Badra

Gazprom, alongside junior partners TPAO, Kogas and Petronas, take Badra oil field after negotiating a bid with the Ministry of Oil. The companies initially offered a $6 per barrel remuneration fee and a production target of 170,000 barrels per day (bpd). The Ministry, however, refused stating that the most they would be willing to accept […]