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)

Jun 19, 2008

America’s ‘Angle of Light’ leaving Iraq

Plus: *Iraq’s next oil deals *Basra exports back *DNO production up *Tee times in Iraqi Kurdistan *Much more… Al Herman is no diplomat. His choice words are frank, sometimes unprintable, and usually effective. As America's top adviser to Iraq's Electricity Ministry for the past 28 months, he's butted heads professionally with Iraqi ministers and the […]

Jun 17, 2008

Kirkuk field production stymied by Baghdad-Erbil fight and unclear course for development

Plus: * More on the Iraq-Shell joint venture for south gas *Weather impedes oil exports *Tenders announced for drilling in Rumaila and Luhais *Much more… The Kirkuk oil field in northern Iraq could be producing 70,000 barrels more per day, but a dispute between Iraq's central and Kurdish regional governments has kept the needed equipment […]

Jun 12, 2008

Oil exports OK from some KRG deals, Iraq oil minister says

Plus: *Oil city Amarah awaits Basra incursion redux *Iraq agrees to Jordan cheaper oil extension *Oil for education *Birth defects rise in Fallujah babies * Kurdistan’s muckrakers The pipeline that could pump northern Iraqi oil for export is nearly complete but empty, ending for now in the soil near the borders with Syria and Turkey, […]

Jun 11, 2008

KRG holding oil deal signing bonus and sales until Iraq passes revenue sharing law

Iraq's Kurdish region has been collecting millions of dollars in signing bonuses for 19 oil deals inked with international oil companies but is waiting for a federal revenue-haring law before turning it over to Baghdad. The signing bonuses vary from between $1 million and $5 million "to sometimes more than that," Kurdistan Regional Government Minister […]

Jun 10, 2008

Much-hyped tenders for developing Iraq oil and gas fields out by June 30

Plus: *Lukoil still banking on W. Qurna 2 *Ministry of Industry and Minerals to build refineries *Ministry of Oil to buy tankers *Kurds pan U.N. proposal on some disputed territories *Iraqis trying to live in Amman *Alive in Baghdad: To be gay and Iraqi The Iraqi Oil Ministry this month will announce the first round […]

Jun 8, 2008

Audit pans Iraq and U.S. efforts to account for oil, fuel and revenue flow…

Plus: *Iraq working with neighbors on joint oilfields *Electricity Ministry signs with GE The summary audit results of Iraq’s 2007 oil sales and revenue flow conducted by Ernst & Young has been released by the International Advisory and Monitoring Board for Iraq. It landed a significant blow to Iraq’s efforts to ensure all oil and […]

Jun 3, 2008

Iraq oil exports tops 2M barrels per day…

Plus: *Barzani says it should triple *Electricity Ministry predicts stable supply in three years *Girl Denied Education *Alive in Baghdad: Another College Year in Baghdad *Much more... Iraq has raised oil exports to a post-war high, Oil Minister Hussain Shahristani told Ahmed Rasheed of Reuters. "In May, we have exceeded for the first time 2 […]

May 30, 2008

Iraq gov’t reshuffles careers of dozens in south oil industry…

Plus: *KRG to merge electricity, natural resources ministry... *...Ashti Hawrami to head new Energy Ministry *Central, region governments to restart oil law talks early June *Iraq dedicates $40M for refugees... *...Gets nowhere at debt conference *Much more... The Iraqi government has moved, demoted or fired more than a dozen people within the southern Iraqi oil […]

May 28, 2008

BP, Exxon propose two-year deals to produce 200,000 barrels more Iraq oil per day…

Plus: *President Talabani meets with Lukoil executives *OMV to start drilling two wells next year in KRG block *Tigris, Euphrates levels affecting gas liquification *Crescent Petroleum’s Majid Jafar Q&A *Much, much more... After several months of negotiations and pressure from the Iraqi government, BP and Exxon Mobil Corp. have finally submitted proposals to the Iraqi […]

May 26, 2008

Iraq PM Maliki fires South Oil Co. chief and scores more in oil, other sectors…

Plus: *Baiji-Baghdad fuel line repairs start *Oil Ministry extends Akkas bid tender *SOMO taking bids for fuel oil export *WashingtonPost.com/Newsweek on the Iraq oil question *Alive in Baghdad: Baghdad, City of Widows *Much more… Iraq's Prime Minister has demoted the head of the South Oil Company and the head of two SOC divisions, Hassan Hafidh […]