Shares in Genel Energy slump on Sarta Result

By John Lee.

Shares in Genel Energy were trading down 7 percent on Tuesday morning after the company announced disappointing results at the Sarta-5 appraisal well:

“Genel Energy plc (‘Genel’ or ‘the Company’) announces the following update on the Sarta PSC (30% working interest and operator).

“Testing of the Sarta-5 appraisal well has been completed. While oil was recovered to surface from a number of intervals, notably c.800 bbls of light oil from the Najmah formation, stable and sustained commercial flow of oil was not achieved from the primary reservoir objectives of the Mus and Adaiyah formations nor the secondary Lower Sargalu or Najmah formations. None of the intervals tested were able to support sustained flow of reservoir fluids, indicating that the reservoirs at this location are tight. This was identified as a critical pre-drill risk of this appraisal well.

“The presence of oil associated with both the primary and secondary Jurassic reservoir intervals, 12 km southeast of the Sarta pilot EPF, will now be subject to further investigation and integration into the joint venture’s understanding of the Sarta field and future planning. The well will now be suspended according to KRI regulations.

“The Sarta appraisal programme continues at Sarta-6, c.6 km to the west of the pilot EPF, with test results expected in Q3.”

(Source: Genel Energy)

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Iraq Revenues to Exceed $150 Billion

By John Lee.

A financial advisor to the Iraqi Prime Minister has said he expects Iraq’s revenues this year to exceed $150 billion.

Speaking to the state-controlled Iraqi News Agency (INA), Mudhar Muhammad Salih said sustained high oil prices, combined with non-oil revenues of “no less than $8-10 billion“, will result in total revenues for whole of Iraq (including the Kurdistan Region) of at least $150 billion.

His estimates were based on IMF assumptions, including an average oil price of  $104, and daily exports of crude oil from the Baghdad-controlled region of 3.4 million barrels per day.

(Source: INA)

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IBBC appoints Industry Specialist as Strategic Development Officer

IBBC appoints industry specialist as Strategic Development Officer

As the Iraq Britain Business Council (IBBC) Board and Executive Committee re-fresh their strategic plan to continue a pathway to success for Iraq and its business community, it has appointed a Strategic Development Officer to bring industry expertise and experience to its management team.

Colin Findlay brings over 40 years of experience in the Oil & Gas sector and in industrial manufacturing as a Chief Executive Officer and Industry Association Chairman.  Colin led Severn Glocon Group’s Iraq operations from 2012 onwards and was an active member of the IBBC during that time.

Colin says:

I am delighted to take up this appointment. I took 3 months carrying out an in-depth strategic review of IBBC, its aims, objectives and member activities before joining and feel able now to support its future strategic development.

“My review further consolidated my understanding of the IBBC’s reputation and merits as an influencer in the Iraq & British business community. My initial activities will focus on improving the capacity of the IBBC to reach its goals before supporting Christophe in the delivery of long term strategic objectives.

Christophe Michel’s IBBC’s Managing Director commented:

We are delighted that Colin has chosen to join IBBC and support our work. His strategic review was very timely and has helped focus our thinking on the future of IBBC and how it delivers its work across the region.

“The IBBC has always sought to bring industry experience together with international relations expertise and also to ensure that we offer value to our members and business associates. The addition of Colin to the team will add strength and capacity to our work.

Please see Colin Findlay’s bio here.

(Source: IBBC)

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Iraq Petroleum Sector Chronicle, Volume 2 – 2011

Iraq Business News Expert Blogger, Ahmed Mousa Jiyad, has completed the second volume of his chronicle of the Iraqi oil industry, this time covering 2011.

The first volume, published in October 2021, covers the development in the upstream petroleum in Iraq prior to 2011 and has a subtitle “Grand Opening for Big Push Strategy“.

The subtitle reflects the mood, sentiments, actions and views that prevailed then both inside and outside Iraq, expecting Iraq to be a game changer in the international petroleum scene; that was premised on the concluded service contracts pursuant to the bid rounds, particularly the first and the second, as evidenced by the contents of volume one of the book.

One year later, in 2011, signs of powerful restraints began to emerge and thoughts for revising downwards the unrealistic, unattainable oil production targets were contemplated; many views and opinions covered by volume 2 of the book were explicitly or implicitly advocating such revision.

Hence, the subtitle for this second volume reflects that dramatic shift from high expectations originally formulated after concluding the above mentioned contracts; it is “A Game Changer, No More“.

Click here to read the introduction to the book.

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Iraq to Increase Oil Export Capacity

By John Lee.

Basra Oil Company (BOC) has reportedly said that third offshore pipeline at the Khor Al-Amaya Oil Terminal (KAAOT) (pictured) will be completed by the end of 2023.

Acting Director General, Ahmed Fadel Dehaim, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that the new line will increase oil export capacity by 600,000 barrels per day (bpd).

He said another 300,00o bpd of capacity will become available sooner, following the completion of work to restore another pipeline that was damaged two years ago.

(Source: INA)

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Iraq Oil Export Volumes hit 2-Year High

By John Lee.

Iraq’s Ministry of Oil has announced preliminary oil exports for April of 101,390,662 barrels, giving an average for the month of 3.380 million barrels per day (bpd), up from the 3.244 million bpd exported in March.

This is the highest daily export rate since the 3.438 million barrels per day achieved in April 2020.

The exports from the oilfields in central and southern Iraq amounted to approximately 98,100,042 barrels, while exports from the Kirkuk fields through the port of Ceyhan amounted to 2,991,060 barrels.

While not explicitly stated by the Ministry, these figures seem to imply that exports by road to Jordan have resumed as planned, and totalled 299,560 barrels for the month.

Revenues for the month were $10.55 billion, at an average price of $104.091 per barrel.

March’s export figures can be found here.

(Source: Ministry of Oil)

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Refinery Targeted in Rocket Attack

By John Lee.

A rocket attack that targeted an oil refinery in the Khabat area of Erbil on Sunday has been widely condemned.

Six rockets were fired at the Kawergosk refinery, which is owned by KAR Group, reportedly damaging a storage tank.

The Iraqi Security Media Cell said it located a launch base near the Al-Fadhiliah area of Bashiqa district, in the Nineveh Plain, where a further four missiles were rendered rendered harmless.

Shafaq quotes a source as saying that one person sustained minor injuries in the attack.

In March, the home of the CEO of KAR Group, Baz Karim Barzanji, was badly damaged in a rocket attack attributed to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

(Sources: Iraqi Security Media Cell, Shafaq, Asharq al Awsat, NRT)

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GKP outlines Payments to Govts for 2021

By John Lee.

Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP) has just published details of its payments to governments for the year 2021:

Introduction

This report sets out details of the payments made to governments by Gulf Keystone Petroleum Ltd and its subsidiary undertakings (“Gulf Keystone”) for the year ended 31 December 2021 as required under Disclosure and Transparency Rule 4.3A issued by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (“DTR 4.3A”) and in accordance with The Reports on Payments to Governments Regulations 2014 (as amended in 2015) (“the UK Regulations”) and our interpretation of the Industry Guidance on the UK Regulations issued by the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers. DTR 4.3A requires companies listed on a stock exchange in the UK and operating in the extractive industry to publicly disclose payments to governments in the countries where they undertake exploration, prospection, discovery, development and extraction of minerals, oil, natural gas deposits or other materials.

Basis for preparation

Total payments below £86,000 made to a government are excluded from this report, as permitted under the UK Regulations.

All of the payments made in relation to the Shaikan Production Sharing Contract (“Shaikan PSC”) in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq have been made to the Ministry of Natural Resources (“MNR”) of the Kurdistan Regional Government (“KRG”).

Production entitlements

Production entitlements are the host government’s share of production during the reporting period from the Shaikan Field operated by Gulf Keystone. The figures reported have been produced on an entitlement basis, rather than on a liftings basis. Production entitlements are paid in-kind and the monetary value disclosed is derived from management’s calculation based on the monthly oil sales invoices.

Royalties

Royalties represent royalties paid in-kind to governments during the year for the extraction of oil. The terms of the royalties are described within the Shaikan PSC. Royalties have been calculated on the same basis as production entitlements.

Licence fees and capacity building payments

These include licence fees, rental fees, entry fees, capacity building payments, security fees and other considerations for licences or concessions.

Infrastructure improvement payments

These include payments for infrastructure improvements, whether contractual or otherwise, such as roads, other than in circumstances where the infrastructure is expected to be primarily dedicated to operational activities throughout its useful life.

KRG

Production entitlements in-kind (1) (mboe (2))

5,151

Production entitlements in-kind (1)  ($ ‘000)

255,763

Royalties in-kind (1) (mboe (2))

1,255

Royalties in-kind (1) (2) ($ ‘000)

62,320

Licence fees and capacity building payments in-kind (3) ($ ‘000)

17,385

Infrastructure improvement payments (4)

342

Total (mboe (2))

6,406

Total ($ ‘000)

355,811

Notes

(1)  All of the crude oil produced by Gulf Keystone was sold by the KRG. All proceeds of sale were received by or on behalf of the KRG, out of which the KRG then made payment for cost oil and profit oil in accordance with the Shaikan PSC to Gulf Keystone, in exchange for the crude oil delivered to the KRG. Under these arrangements, payments were made by or on behalf of the KRG to Gulf Keystone, rather than by Gulf Keystone to the KRG. However, for the purposes of the reporting requirements under the UK Regulations, we are required to characterise the value of the KRG’s production entitlements under the Shaikan PSC (for which the KRG receives payment directly from the market) as a payment to the KRG.

(2)  Thousand barrels of oil.

(3)  Capacity building payments are deducted from the monthly crude oil sales invoice, no direct payment is made to the KRG. The value of licence, rental and security fees has been accrued and is not expected to be paid, but rather offset against revenue due from the KRG related to pre-October 2017 oil sales, which have not yet been recognised in the financial statements.

(4)  Drilling of water well, construction of water supply network and purchase of generators.

(Source: Gulf Keystone Petroleum)

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IDC starts Drilling 20 Oil Wells at Nasiriyah

By John Lee.

The Iraqi Drilling Company (IDC) has started work on the first of its 20 oil wells at the Nasiriyah oil field in Dhi Qar.

IDC’s Director General, Basem Abdul Karim, said that the project is part of a contract with the Dhi Qar Oil Company (DQOC) in cooperation with Weatherford.

The planned depth of the well is 2,200 meters.

The project is to be completed within 18 months.

(Source: Ministry of Oil)

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