Category: Kurdistan News

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KRG Acts against Illegal Refineries

KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani chaired on Wednesday a meeting of the KRG Oil and Gas Council.

It was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, relevant ministers, governors, supervisors of local administrations, and representatives of the Integrity Commission, Board of Supreme Audit, the Attorney General’s Office, and Security (Assayish).

The Ministry of Natural Resources presented a report on the number and locations of illegal refineries with dates of operation. Because these refineries are a serious threat to citizen health and the environment it was agreed to accelerate control of the situation.

Prominent examples in both Erbil and Suleimaniya Governorates were presented in which refinery residues severely damaged water resources, agricultural production, and adversely affected citizen health.

It was decided the Ministry of Natural Resources in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior and the heads of administrative units would soon work in accordance with law to resolve this issue. The government would take necessary procedures to protect the environment and health of citizens, and later present results of legal proceedings to the public.

Prime Minister Barzani and Deputy Prime Minister Talabani stressed the need for especially the executive administrative units such as the Ministry of Interior, the Security Council, and the police to cooperate with governors to address this issue within the framework of the legal mechanism that was put forward during the meeting.  Also, the Attorney General has been mandated to cooperate on legalities.

They stressed that protection of the environment and preservation of citizens’ lives are priorities that supersede economic issues – a distinction must be made between the lives of citizens, the environment, and the provision of fuel.

(Source: KRG)

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DNO Picks Up Peshkabir Production in Kurdistan

DNO ASA, the Norwegian oil and gas operator, today announced a two-thirds increase in production from the Peshkabir field in the Tawke license in the Kurdistan region of Iraq to 25,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) following completion of the Peshkabir-4 well testing program.

The well has been placed on production at a rate of 10,000 bopd through a 72/64″ choke with 790 psi wellhead pressure through temporary, capacity-constrained test facilities and the oil trucked to Fish Khabur for export.

The Peshkabir-4 well was designed as a high angle well to assess the central part of the structure four kilometers west of the Peshkabir-3 well and drilled to a measured depth of 3,525 meters, including a 1,150 meter extended reach reservoir section. A total of 11 zones were tested and flowed between 1,500 bopd and 7,000 bopd per zone.

The next well in the 2018 field development campaign, Peshkabir-5, has been drilled seven kilometers west of Peshkabir-3 and has successfully proved the westward extension of the field. Completed in June, it is currently undergoing final testing; a total of four zones have been tested so far and flowed between 4,000 bopd and 7,500 bopd per zone.

DNO will bring this well onstream in August and expects to reach and surpass its previously announced summer 2018 Peshkabir production target of 30,000 bopd.

“The pickup in Peshkabir production puts new meaning to the fast in fast track in development of this field by the DNO team,” said Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani, DNO’s Executive Chairman.  “And we expect Peshkabir to continue to surprise to the upside,” he added.

Two other wells, Peshkabir-6 and Peshkabir-7, are drilling ahead at 3,900 meters and 3,100 meters, respectively. Peshkabir-6, a near vertical well, will explore the field’s deeper Triassic formation and establish the Cretaceous oil/water contact level. Peshkabir-7 is a high angle producer well located between Peshkabir-4 and Peshkabir-5.

The Peshkabir field was brought on production in 2017 and two drilled wells last year, Peshkabir-2 and Peshkabir-3, have produced at a constant combined rate of around 15,000 bopd.

DNO operates and has a 75 percent interest in the Tawke license, which contains the Tawke and Peshkabir fields, with partner Genel Energy plc holding the remainder. Together, output from the two fields has averaged 106,000 bopd year-to-date.

(Source: DNO)

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Dana Gas gets $44m from KRG in 1H

By John Lee.

Dana Gas has said it has received $43.8 million in dividends from Pearl Petroleum Company Limited for condensate and LPG sales in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) in the first half of 2018, including a $7 million payment for the month of June.

The company added that the capacity to process gas and condensate from the Khor Mor field (pictured) will increase by 580 MMscf/d and 20 mbbld, respectively, with the expansion programme is on track to deliver an increase in output of 80 MMscf/d by Q3 2018.

(Sources: Rudaw, Mubasher)

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GKP Completes $100m Bond Issue

Gulf Keystone Petroleum Ltd., operator of the Shaikan Field in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, has announced the successful completion of the private placement of a 5-year senior unsecured $100 million bond issue (the “New Notes”).

The New Notes will be issued at 100 percent of par and carry a 10 percent fixed semi-annual coupon. The bond placement received strong investor demand, both from existing and new investors across international markets and was oversubscribed.

The New Notes issue is expected to settle on or about 25 July 2018, subject to customary conditions precedent. An application will be made for the New Notes to be listed on an appropriate recognised exchange. The proceeds from the New Notes will be used to refinance all of Gulf Keystone’s existing $100 million Guaranteed Notes due 2021 (the “Existing Notes”).

With respect to the Existing Notes that have not tendered for exchange, the Company intends to exercise the option to redeem all of the Existing Notes then outstanding at par value according to the call option, expected to take place on 26 July 2018.

Jón Ferrier (pictured), Gulf Keystone’s Chief Executive Officer, said: 

“Following our recent announcement of the resumption of investments at the Shaikan Field to increase production to 55,000 bopd, an increase by about 70% compared to current levels, this refinancing resets the Company’s capital structure that was put in place in conjunction with the restructuring in 2016. This is another positive milestone for the company and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

“We also look forward to updating the market on our plans to increase production to 75,000 bopd and up to 110,000 bopd in due course.“

Sami Zouari, Gulf Keystone’s Chief Financial Officer, said:

“The refinancing confirms the substantial progress achieved by the Company. The New Notes considerably strengthen the Company’s financial capabilities as we embark on our next investment phases in the Shaikan field.”

(Source: GKP)

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GKP Shares Gain following Update

Shares in Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP), operator of the Shaikan Field in Iraqi Kurdistan, were trading up 10 percent on Friday after the company issued an operational and corporate update.

Highlights

  • Agreement with the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (“KRG”) Ministry of Natural Resources (“MNR”) and MOL Hungarian Oil & Gas plc (“MOL”) has been reached in relation to the investment plans to increase gross production capacity to 55,000 barrels of oil per day (“bopd”) in the next 12 to 18 months.
  • Gulf Keystone has initiated contracting and procurement activities to implement the 2018 approved capital expenditure of approximately $91 million gross ($73 million net to GKP), which includes workovers in existing wells (electric submersible pumps (“ESPs”) and tubing replacements), drilling of a new well, facilities improvement and plant debottlenecking.
  • The remainder of the required capital expenditure which is currently estimated to be between $175 million to $215 million gross (as previously set out in the 2017 Full Year Results) to achieve 55,000 bopd gross production capacity is expected to be part of the 2019 investment plan (which will also include activities related to the further development of the field).
  • The Company continues to work on the revised Field Development Plan, which is expected to be submitted to the MNR in Q3 2018. The Company will provide an update on the details of the investment plans for the 75,000 bopd and up to 110,000 bopd phases when finalised.
  • Safety performance remains strong with over 3 million man hours without a lost-time incident achieved since 2015.
  • Plant uptime between 1 January 2018 and 31 May 2018 has been outstanding at over 99%, leading to an average gross production of 32,138 bopd for the period, just above the upper end of our 27,000-32,000 bopd guidance for 2018. Full-year guidance for 2018 remains unchanged.
  • A major milestone has been achieved with cumulative production from the Shaikan Field reaching 50 million barrels. As a result, in line with the terms of the Shaikan Production Sharing Contract (“Shaikan PSC”) and our previous disclosure, a production bonus in the amount of $20 million ($16 million net to GKP) is now payable to the KRG.
  • Hook-up of the 400m spur pipeline from Production Facility 2 to the Atrush export line is in its final stage and expected to be operational shortly. This will eliminate trucking requirements for a significant share of Shaikan production which will reduce HSE exposure and is expected to improve netbacks to the Company. Pipeline tie-in of Production Facility 1 will be part of the 2019 investment plan.
  • Payments from the KRG have been received on a regular basis throughout the year. The Company has received gross payments of $136.7 million ($107.3 million net to GKP) year to date.
  • The Company had cash amounting to $222 million as at 21 June 2018.
  • The Company continues its dialogue with the MNR and MOL in order to achieve further contractual and commercial clarity in relation to amendments of the Shaikan PSC which it anticipates being concluded in Q3 2018.

Commenting, Jón Ferrier, CEO, said:

“We are very pleased with the progress we have made in recent months on key commercial and operational matters and are delighted that Gulf Keystone is now back to investment mode, with the objective of achieving 55,000 bopd production capacity in the next 12 to 18 months; an important step towards the development of the full potential of the Shaikan field.”

(Source: GKP)

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Oryx: Successful Appraisal Well at Banan Field

Oryx Petroleum Announces Successful Appraisal Well at the Banan field

Oryx Petroleum has announced an update on the drilling of an appraisal well targeting the Tertiary reservoir at the Banan field in the Hawler license area in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

As at December 31, 2017, 26 million barrels (“bbl”) of unrisked gross (100%) best estimate (2C) contingent oil resources sub-classified as development unclarified (risked: 13 million bbl) were attributed to the Banan Tertiary reservoir by Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. based on data obtained during the drilling of the Banan-2 well in 2014.

In late May and early June 2018, the Banan-3 well was drilled to a depth of approximately 500 metres and completed in open hole partially penetrating the Tertiary reservoir. Oil production from the well has been enabled by the use of a jet pump and has averaged approximately 1,500 bbl/d with 50 scf/stb of gas and no water over the last six days of uninterrupted production.

The stock tank oil has a gravity of 26 degrees API. The Corporation intends to continue the extended production test of the well with the objective of assessing the well’s performance, identifying options for increasing production and obtaining information to refine plans for additional appraisal of the Banan Tertiary reservoir.

Crude oil produced at the Banan field is currently hauled to the Hawler tanker terminal where it is offloaded and then pumped to the Demir Dagh storage system. It is blended with crude oil produced from other Hawler license area wells before being exported through the Kurdistan Region-Turkey Export Pipeline.

Based on results from the Banan-3 well, the Corporation expects that, in its reserves report for year-end December 31, 2018, oil reserves will be attributed to the Banan Tertiary reservoir.

The drilling of the Zey Gawra-3 well targeting the Cretaceous reservoir at the Zey Gawra field in the Hawler license area is in progress with results expected in the coming weeks. The Zey Gawra-3 well is the first well to be drilled in the Hawler license area utilising a horizontal well design.

The drilling or re-entry of wells targeting the Banan Cretaceous, Banan Tertiary and Demir Dagh Cretaceous reservoirs are planned, subject to performance of existing wells, in the second half of 2018.

Commenting today, Oryx Petroleum’s Chief Executive Officer, Vance Querio (pictured), stated:

“We are very pleased to have resumed operations at the Banan field with a successful appraisal well targeting the Tertiary reservoir. The average production rate achieved thus far is consistent with expectations and export of the oil is proceeding smoothly.

“Total average daily crude oil production from the Hawler license area is now approximately 5,300 barrels per day. The drilling of the Zey Gawra-3 well targeting the Cretaceous reservoir is in progress with results expected in the coming weeks. The drilling or re-entry of four more wells is planned for the second half of 2018 subject to the performance of existing wells.”

(Source: Oryx Petroleum)

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GKP Receives Further Payment from KRG

By John Lee.

Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP) has confirmed that a gross payment of $19.7 million ($15.5 million net to GKP) has been received from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) for Shaikan crude oil sales during March 2018.

(Source: GKP)

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Genel Energy Confirms KRG Payment

Genel Energy notes the announcement from DNO ASA, as operator of the Tawke PSC, that the Tawke partners have received $47.23 million from the Kurdistan Regional Government (‘KRG’) as payment for February 2018 crude oil deliveries to the export market from the Tawke licence. Genel’s net share of the payment is $11.81 million.

The Taq Taq partners have received a gross payment of $6.80 million from the KRG for oil sales during February 2018. Genel’s net share of the payment is $3.74 million.

The Company has also received an override payment of $6.85 million from the KRG, representing 4.5% of Tawke gross licence revenues for the month of February 2018, as per the terms of the Receivable Settlement Agreement.

Gross production from the Tawke licence stood at 111,618 bopd during February, of which only 102,999 bopd was exported due to a planned pipeline outage; the balance was placed into interim storage at Fishkhabur and exported the following month.

In total, Genel’s net share of payments relating to February 2018 exports totals $22.40 million.

(Source: Genel Energy)

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Rosneft, KRG sign Gas Development Agreement

As part of the XXII St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Rosneft and the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq signed an agreement securing the intention of the Parties to make a detailed analysis of potential gas cooperation options.

The Parties ensure stepwise implementation of the arrangements following the Investment Agreement signed at the XXI St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

Rosneft will focus its analysis on how to participate in the integrated gas business value chain in the region in order to extract maximum efficiency from investments and operations in such areas as exploration and production, transportation and trading with especial attention given to partnership and project (third party) financing options.

Under the Agreement the Parties will elaborate an integral plan to progress the gas business within the Kurdish Region of Iraq. One step in this plan is the conduct of a pre-FEED of Iraqi Kurdistan’s gas pipeline construction and operation.

This is a key project to the monetization of the exploration and production opportunities Rosneft has been evaluating since signing a Gas Cooperation Agreement with the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq at the 10th Eurasian Economic Forum in Verona on 19 October 2017.

Following the outcomes of the integral development plan in terms of the attractiveness and efficiency of the options, Rosneft will decide on how to participate in the regional gas business.

(Source: Rosneft)

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GKP receives New Payment from KRG

By John Lee.

Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP) has confirmed that a gross payment of $18.8 million ($14.7 million net to GKP) has been received from the Kurdistan Regional Government for Shaikan crude oil sales during February 2018.

(Source: GKP)