Category: Missan

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Baker Hughes wins Four-Year Contract in Missan

By John Lee.

Baker Hughes has said its oilfield services (OFS) division has secured a four-year contract to provide artificial lift solutions for the Missan [Maysan] oilield in Iraq.

In a statement announcing its results for the second quarter of 2022, the US-based company said the contract includes the supply of electrical submersible pumps (ESP), surface equipment and dedicated field services.

The ESPs will be utilized to maximize oil recovery and extend system run-life in harsh environments, it added.

The company, which also has contracts at the Nasiriyah and Garraf [Gharraf] oil fields, recently committed to pulling out of operations in Iraqi Kurdistan, following the Federal Supreme Court ruling that oil contracts signed with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) are unconstitutional.

(Source: Baker Hughes)

The post Baker Hughes wins Four-Year Contract in Missan first appeared on Iraq Business News.

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Combating Climate Change in Iraq

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP), in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Environment, and in cooperation with Missan Governorate launched the Haweizah population support project for combatting climate change. The project is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).

The project was launched in Missan Governorate. Attendees included members from UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Arab States (RBAS) as well as technical staff members of the Ministry of Health and Environment, representatives of the Governorate and local municipalities and Civil Society Organizations.

This two-year national project aims to support the marshland communities and enable them to withstand the risks associated with climate change that causes climatic disasters like recurrent droughts, which constitute a threat multiplier to the population. These droughts lead to a heightened poverty rates and migration due to water shortages and deteriorating environmental systems, which negatively affect peoples’ livelihoods.

The undersecretary of technical affairs at the Ministry of Health and Environment, Dr. Jasim Hamadi said:

“The Ministry, in cooperation with UNDP Iraq has endeavored to provide all the technical requirements to prepare the draft project document, based on our belief in the importance of these marshlands.

“We affirm our full commitment to this project to ensure that it will be a starting point for a genuine effort to support the marshland areas and their local communities by adopting new projects that aim to develop the socio-economic conditions of these areas, which are considered a significant cultural and environmental heritage not only to Iraq but also to the world.“

The project ensures innovative solutions for providing potable water to support the resettlement of the communities at Al-Huweizah marshlands. It also aims to promote livelihood diversification through development of eco-tourism, providing employment for women and youth, and building the capacities of the local staff and communities for operating water plants and activating women’s awareness, in addition to providing eco-tourism education that helps attract investment in the Governorate.

Missan Governor, Mr. Ali Dawai said:

“We expect that this project will be very successful, given that it directly targets and supports the local communities of Haweizah marshlands and provides an adequate environment to combat climate change.”

“The Missan Governorate is fully prepared to support and oversee this project to ensure its success, thanks to the services it will provide to the Marshland population.”

In her speech at the project launching workshop, Resident Representative of the UNDP Iraq, Zeina Ali Ahmad said:

“The subject of climate change is highly significant at present, and needs an immediate response from all countries to combat the changes in climate that can aggravate the suffering of the population and increase internal displacement and emigration.

“This project has been adopted to upgrade adaptability in the area, and its goals have been drafted to meet the needs of the local population and reduce displacement, targeting in particular the most vulnerable groups.“

The workshop was followed by an inaugural meeting of the project steering committee, through which the project action plan for 2021 has been presented. This action plan will be approved by the members after setting the priorities.

(Source: UN)

The post Combating Climate Change in Iraq first appeared on Iraq Business News.

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WHO sends Medical Supplies to Missan

WHO sends shipment of kits and medical supplies to Missan governorate

Responding to the needs of the Directorate of Health in Missan following the recent floods that hit the area, the World Health Organisation (WHO), with the generous support of donors, sent a large consignment of emergency kits and medical supplies to support the Directorate, 304 kilometres south east of Baghdad.

WHO and Missan Directorate of Health staff witness firsthand the damage caused by floodingMissan was adversely affected by the floods which were caused by heavy rain and floods from the border with Islamic Republic of Iran. The flood water is covering a wide area of land, which has led to the migration of residents, damage to property, death of livestock and destruction of agricultural crops in many villages and marshlands.

About 328 726 population are at risk. Cities and villages affected are: Ali al-Gharbi, al-Msharrah, Hay al-Mua’alemeen al-Jadeed, al-Salam, al-Faka, al-Btaira, al-Teeb, al-Adil, al-Maymouna, al-Uzair and al-Kahlaa. Areas seriously threatened are villages west of the Tigris River (Hor Al-Musandak) along Ali al-Gharbi, Ali al-Sharqi and Qamit. 545 families are displaced with another 2000 families threatened with displacement.

The Government coordinated multisectoral efforts, supervised and supported relief operations, established 5 camps, and coordinated with Iraqi Army forces and civil defense to send helicopters to evacuate people trapped in flooded areas. With the situation quickly evolving, 101 families in some villages were evacuated to a camp in a neighbouring village.

Adham Ismail, acting WHO Representative in Iraq, said:

“In response to the crisis, the WHO country office in Iraq has been coordinating very closely with the Missan Directorate of Health. WHO kept high level coordination and collaboration with the Directorate of Health in Missan through medical operations and specialized services.

“WHO acted promptly in responding to monitoring the floods and receiving regular reports, it assessed water quality and access to clean water and monitored cases of acute diarrhoea. Further, WHO has shared information with the Development Coordination Office at UNAMI and all United Nations partner agencies in Basra, particularly with UNICEF – Water and Sanitation Unit, and supported the Directorate with 30 Basic Interagency Emergency Health Kit and trauma kits to cover a population of 100 000 for one month. WHO will continue its efforts in monitoring the flood and health situation in Missan.”

Officials at Missan Directorate of Health stressed that the shipment would save lives in the governorate and could be used by mobile clinics offering emergency health care and services to affected people. They expressed appreciation to WHO and donors for their quick response and support.

The consignment included supplementary module pharmaceutical kits, supplementary module equipment, renewable kits, trauma profile/emergency kits, medical supplies, and basic units (without a malaria component).

(Source: WHO)

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WHO sends Medical Supplies to Missan

WHO sends shipment of kits and medical supplies to Missan governorate

Responding to the needs of the Directorate of Health in Missan following the recent floods that hit the area, the World Health Organisation (WHO), with the generous support of donors, sent a large consignment of emergency kits and medical supplies to support the Directorate, 304 kilometres south east of Baghdad.

WHO and Missan Directorate of Health staff witness firsthand the damage caused by floodingMissan was adversely affected by the floods which were caused by heavy rain and floods from the border with Islamic Republic of Iran. The flood water is covering a wide area of land, which has led to the migration of residents, damage to property, death of livestock and destruction of agricultural crops in many villages and marshlands.

About 328 726 population are at risk. Cities and villages affected are: Ali al-Gharbi, al-Msharrah, Hay al-Mua’alemeen al-Jadeed, al-Salam, al-Faka, al-Btaira, al-Teeb, al-Adil, al-Maymouna, al-Uzair and al-Kahlaa. Areas seriously threatened are villages west of the Tigris River (Hor Al-Musandak) along Ali al-Gharbi, Ali al-Sharqi and Qamit. 545 families are displaced with another 2000 families threatened with displacement.

The Government coordinated multisectoral efforts, supervised and supported relief operations, established 5 camps, and coordinated with Iraqi Army forces and civil defense to send helicopters to evacuate people trapped in flooded areas. With the situation quickly evolving, 101 families in some villages were evacuated to a camp in a neighbouring village.

Adham Ismail, acting WHO Representative in Iraq, said:

“In response to the crisis, the WHO country office in Iraq has been coordinating very closely with the Missan Directorate of Health. WHO kept high level coordination and collaboration with the Directorate of Health in Missan through medical operations and specialized services.

“WHO acted promptly in responding to monitoring the floods and receiving regular reports, it assessed water quality and access to clean water and monitored cases of acute diarrhoea. Further, WHO has shared information with the Development Coordination Office at UNAMI and all United Nations partner agencies in Basra, particularly with UNICEF – Water and Sanitation Unit, and supported the Directorate with 30 Basic Interagency Emergency Health Kit and trauma kits to cover a population of 100 000 for one month. WHO will continue its efforts in monitoring the flood and health situation in Missan.”

Officials at Missan Directorate of Health stressed that the shipment would save lives in the governorate and could be used by mobile clinics offering emergency health care and services to affected people. They expressed appreciation to WHO and donors for their quick response and support.

The consignment included supplementary module pharmaceutical kits, supplementary module equipment, renewable kits, trauma profile/emergency kits, medical supplies, and basic units (without a malaria component).

(Source: WHO)

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Iraq Awards New Oilfield Licences: FULL LIST

By John Lee.

Iraq’s Ministy of Oil has awarded all four development projects, and two of the seven exploration blocks, that it offered in its fifth auction of oil licences.

Only nine of the 26 companies originally pre-qualified took part in the auction, with majors such as Lukoil (Russia), ExxonMobil (US) and Total (France) not bidding.

Development blocks:

  • Gilabat-Qumar, in Diyala: Crescent Petroleum (UAE)
  • Khashim Ahmer-Injana, in Diyala: Crescent Petroleum (UAE)
  • Huwaiza, in Missan (Maysan): Geo Jade Petroleum (China)
  • Khudher Al-Mai [Khider al-Mai], in Basra and Muthana: Crescent Petroleum (UAE)

Exploration blocks:

  • Naft Khana, in Diyala: Geo-Jade Petroleum (China)
  • Sindibad [Sindbad] field in Basra: United Energy Group (Hong Kong)
  • Zurbatiya [Zurbatia], in Wasit and Diyala: not awarded
  • Shihabi in Missan and Wasit: not awarded
  • Fao, in Basra: not awarded
  • Jebel Sanam [Jabal Sanam], in Basra: not awarded
  • Offshore Gulf block: not awarded

Abdul Mahdi al-Ameedi, director general of the Petroleum Contracts and Licensing Directorate (PCLD), told Reuters that the failure of five blocks to attract bids was due to a combination of factors, including the fact that some of them cover former battlefields, some are hard to access, and the one offshore plot needs more data.

He said another round could be held for those five blocks.

More details here from Iraq Oil Report (subscription required)

(Sources: Iraq Oil Report, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP)

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New Gas Treatment Station opened at Bazirgan Field

By John Lee.

Oil Minister Jabar Ali al-Luaibi [Allibi, Luiebi] has opened a gas treatment station at the Bazirgan field in Maysan [Missan] governorate.

The celebration was also attended the members of the parliament, the deputies of the ministry, the directors general and the responsible officials of the ministry, the local government and the governorate.

Mr. Al-Luiebi said that the gas investment is a real priority for the ministry of oil to stop wasting the oil wealth and to develop the gas industry in Iraq.

Mr. Al-Luiebi said in his speech during the celebration that the gas treatment project is designed to process two million standard cubic meters of associated gas which means (71) MSCF/ day. The processed quantities of gas will be used to operate the (44) megawatts Maysan power station, in order to operate the production units and facilities in the oil fields and supply the surplus to the national power stations with an average of (60) megawatts.

Mr. Al-Luiebi said also:

“We are standing today before and economic edifice and a new accomplishment achieved by the faithful sons of Iraq in general and Maysan in special, and this project is a part of the strategic significant plans of the ministry of oil to invest the associated gas and make use of it in the industry of liquid gas and condensed gas which has become a good economic source of outcome to the federal governmental budget, through the exportation which is being done since two years. In addition to the outcome of the crude oil exportation”.

Mr. Al-Luiebi referred to the accomplishments of the ministry in the sectors of production, exportation and gas industry, which was made through the investment projects by cooperation with the national effort and the international specialized companies. In “dear Maysan” there was many accomplishments, such as the elevation of the oil production to about (480) thousand barrels/ day which can be considered as a big achievement to the governorate within a record time of a few years.

The development projects are continuous in the fields of the company and it is expected to finish the third treatment station in Halfaya field within the end of this year with capacity of (200) thousand barrels/ day to elevate the production from the field to (400) thousand barrels, and elevate the production of the company.

The representative of the Chinese company Inpal said that the project was executed according to the international standards within 18 months and will ensure the investment of large gas quantities to be used in the power station turbines in the field and the national power network.

(Source: Ministry of Oil)

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Scandalous Satarem Refinery Contract gets Final Notice

By Ahmed Mousa Jiyad.

Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.

Satarem-Missan Refinery Scandalous Contract Gets Final Termination Notice

The Iraqi Ministry of Oil (MoO) announced on 4th January 2018 that it had obliged Missan International Refinery Company (MIRC) (actually the bankrupt Swiss company Satarem) to sign an undertaking that it should start working on the 150kbd Missan Refinery within 30 days; otherwise the contract will be terminated without having any legal and financial consequences on the Ministry.

This move by the Ministry is long overdue and should be the very final termination warning as more than four years were lost without any tangible progress in the construction of the refinery.

As I have repeatedly argued, through my writings especially the direct debate communications with the Ministry officials and advisors that by concluding such a dubious contract with highly questionable unqualified bankrupt company, the Ministry surely deters serious refinery investors and, thus, defeats its own aspirations.

Please click here to download the full report.

Mr Jiyad is an independent development consultant, scholar and Associate with the former Centre for Global Energy Studies (CGES), London. He was formerly a senior economist with the Iraq National Oil Company and Iraq’s Ministry of Oil, Chief Expert for the Council of Ministers, Director at the Ministry of Trade, and International Specialist with UN organizations in Uganda, Sudan and Jordan. He is now based in Norway (Email: mou-jiya(at)online.no, Skype ID: Ahmed Mousa Jiyad). Read more of Mr Jiyad’s biography here.

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BHGE to supply Generators for Halfaya Oilfield

Baker Hughes, a GE company, has signed an agreement for the provision of turbine generators to PetroChina International Iraq, in the biggest Turbomachinery & Process Solutions (TPS) agreement ever between the two companies. 

BHGE will deliver its Frame 6B gas turbine electric generator trains to support power generation for the Halfaya oilfield located in the Maysan Governorate. The equipment will generate 150 MW of power for the project and leverage support from BHGE’s existing local and global workforce. The components of the turbo generator units will be manufactured and assembled at BHGE’s Nuovo Pignone facility in Florence, Italy.

Rami Qasem, President & CEO of MENAT & India, BHGE, said:

“This deal strengthens our local footprint in Iraq and further demonstrates our dedication to the region where we see great promise and have formed strong partnerships through ongoing projects and the development of local skills.

“The provision of our field-proven turbomachinery solutions enables international operators around the globe to safely and stably operate, all while reaching their oil production targets and staying on schedule. This is especially true for this particular contract, as our turbines will provide reliable and efficient energy to the Halfaya field and further support the sustainability of Iraq’s ongoing oil and gas operations.”

BHGE’s Frame 6 turbines are able to operate in extreme conditions and harsh environments across a wide range of applications, and have been proven and tested with more than 55 million operating hours.

The turbines are designed to be fully fuel flexible, possessing the ability to run on a wide range of gas or distillate liquids, including sour gas. This offers valuable cost saving to customers, as the turbines can run on the most economically available fuel for a given operation.  In addition to the Halfaya contract, the turbines have been used in multiple projects in the region.

The Halfaya oilfield was discovered in 1976 with 4.1 billion barrels in reserves and is situated in the southern part of Iraq in the country’s Maysan Governate. The field, operated by PetroChina International Iraq, currently produces approx. 200,000 barrels per day.

This agreement with PetroChina International Iraq further strengthens BHGE’s presence in the country, where it has contributed to several projects, including power generation support for two of Iraq’s largest fields – West Qurna and Rumaila – and retains a local footprint consisting of over 70% Iraqi employees.

BHGE also owns and operates a technical services facility in North Rumaila, which opened in 2013 and was expanded this summer. The facility offers a wide range of testing, repair and refurbishment services and has helped to create local employment opportunities and training for more than 2,000 Iraqi professionals.

(Source: BHGE)