Category: Oil News

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GE Synchronizes Gas Turbines at Zubair Power Plant

By John Lee.

GE Gas Power has said it has “marked a major milestone” by synchronizing two GT13E2 gas turbines to the national grid at the Zubair Permanent Power Generation Plant.

The facility is owned by the Basra Oil Company (BOC) and located at the Zubair oil field, about 20 kilometers from the city of Basra.

ENI Iraq B.V. is responsible for developing the oil field and had awarded a contract to GE for the engineering, procurement, installation and commissioning of the power plant.

Two other GT13E2 units at the site had previously been synchronized to the grid in summer 2020. The new additions have taken the total generation capacity of the site up to 700 megawatts (MW).

Joseph Anis, President & CEO of GE Gas Power in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia, said:

“With Iraq’s population growing at over 2 percent per year, the demand for reliable, affordable electricity continues to increase. Every megawatt added to the grid can make a significant impact to the quality of life of the Iraqi people. 

“GE is honored to work together with ENI to support the country’s socioeconomic development by delivering much-needed electricity to power growth and prosperity for present and future generations.“

(Source: GE)

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Jordan Finds Gas Field near Iraqi Border

By John Lee.

Jordan has found new reserves of natural gas at its Risha field, close to its border with Iraq.

Hala Zawati, the Jordanian Energy Minister, said:

“… drilling operations at Well 53 in the Risha field have shown promising results, while exploration and drilling operations continue at wells 50, 51 and 52.”

(Source: Jordanian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources)

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KRG to Resume Override Payments to Genel

By John Lee.

Genel Energy has received notice from the Kurdistan Regional Government (‘KRG’) that override payments, whereby Genel receives 4.5% of monthly Tawke gross field revenues, will resume with the January 2021 invoice, to be paid in February 2021. Assuming the prevailing oil price, this translates into over $5 million of additional cash proceeds on a monthly basis.

This is consistent with the communication received from the KRG as announced on 17 April, which stated that the override payments would be suspended for at least nine months, and also that in a scenario where the oil price recovers to c.$50/bbl, a review of the situation would take place immediately in respect of the outstanding receivable.

In line with this communication, the KRG has now also submitted a reconciliation model for repayment of the receivable relating to amounts owed for invoices for oil sales from November 2019 to February 2020 and the suspended override from March to December 2020. We will work through this submission and update the market when appropriate, as further discussions with the KRG take place.

(Source: Genel Energy)

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China “Set to Bail Out Iraq” with Oil Deal

By John Lee.

Iraq is reportedly poised to sign a multibillion-dollar contract with China’s ZhenHua Oil, in what Bloomberg describes as a bailout from Beijing.

Under the deal, Iraq’s cash-strapped government which will receive money upfront in exchange for long-term oil supplies.

Click here to read the full article.

(Source: Bloomberg)

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Oryx Petroleum Changes Name, Plans $51m Capex

By John Lee.

Oryx Petroleum Corporation has announced that it has changed its name to Forza Petroleum Limited.

2021 Budgeted Capital Expenditures

Budgeted capital expenditures for 2021 are $51 million and dedicated exclusively to the Hawler license area.

The planned work program involves drilling five new wells into proven, producing reservoirs and reservoirs still being appraised in the Demir Dagh, Zey Gawra and Banan fields, completing a previously drilled well in the Ain al Safra field for further evaluation, and installing a gathering system to eliminate trucking in the western part of the Hawler license area to reduce environmental impact and operating expense.

Completion of the full budgeted program is dependent on available funding from one or a combination of increased revenue from oil sales resulting from higher than forecast Brent crude oil prices or production, settlement of past due receivables by the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq in respect of oil sales made between November 2019 and February 2020, and additional funding from third parties.

The Corporation is in discussions with its controlling shareholder regarding financing arrangements to fund budgeted capital expenditure to the extent internal capital is not available.

Operations Update

  • Average gross (100%) oil production of 11,100 bbl/d (participating interest 7,200 bbl/d) for November 2020
  • During November, leased artificial lift equipment used to produce the Banan-4 and Banan-3 wells was demobilized and replaced by a purchased pump in the Banan-4 well, reducing future operating expenditure related to producing the Banan field
  • The previously announced new well targeting the Tertiary reservoir in the Zey Gawra field is not expected to spud before January 2021 as the drilling rig intended for the project continues to be in use by another operator in the region and has not yet been released

CEO’s Comment

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

“We are very encouraged by the rebounding crude oil market and plan to maintain an active program of drilling during 2021 to continue the progressive development of the Hawler license area in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. We intend to increase our offtake rates from some of our proven, producing reservoirs and to continue evaluating the potential of other accumulations in the area that have not previously been produced.

“During a difficult year related to the global pandemic and other headwinds across the oil and gas industry, we have remained committed to maintaining safe operations and decreasing operating costs where possible. The installation of a gathering system to serve the western flank of the Hawler license area will support both of these objectives by dramatically reducing the potential of environmental impact and the relatively high cost of tanker transport operations in the area.

“We look forward to an improving operating environment in 2021 and to continuing our successful efforts to develop the resources of the Hawler area for the benefit of Forza Petroleum, the Kurdistan Regional Government, the employees of OP Hawler Kurdistan Limited and the citizens of the communities in which we operate.”

(Source: Oryx)

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Gazprom Neft developing Fourth Well at Sarqala

By John Lee.

Russia’s Gazprom Neft has produced its four-millionth tonne (32-millionth barrel) of oil since starting commercial development of the Sarqala field in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI).

Three wells are now in operation at this field, with daily production running at about 3,100 tonnes (24,000 barrels) per day.

Limitations arising under the COVID-19 pandemic notwithstanding, Gazprom Neft Middle East B.V. is continuing to develop this field and is implementing a number of key production projects, including drilling a fourth well, the commissioning of which will increase production to 4,100 (around 32,000 barrels) per day. The commissioning of this well is scheduled for the first half of 2021.

Gazprom Neft Middle East B.V. is involved in this project with the Government of the KRI as part of the latter’s development of the region’s energy supply system. Associated petroleum gas (APG) produced at the Sarqala field will be used as fuel for energy facilities currently under development by government authorities.

This programme envisages the construction of a 4.5-kilometre gas pipeline to connect the field to power generation facilities. Implementing this project will not only increase APG utilisation at the field, but will also facilitate energy supplies to several districts within the KRI.

(Source: Gazprom Neft)

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Total “in Talks” to Sell Stake in Iraqi Oil Field

By John Lee.

France’s Total is reported to be in talks to sell its 18-percent stake in the Sarsang block in Iraqi Kurdistan, in a move aimed at reducing the company’s debt.

Bloomberg says the company is working with Jefferies Financial Group on the deal, adding that the holding could be worth as much as $500 million.

More here and here.

(Source: Bloomberg)

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Ergil completes Pigging System at Majnoon

By John Lee.

Turkish engineering firm Ergil has completed the design, engineering and fabrication of a pig launcher and pig receiver system at Iraq’s Majnoon oil field.

According to Wikipedia: “In pipeline transportation, pigging is the practice of using pipeline inspection gauges, devices generally referred to as pigs or scrapers, to perform various maintenance operations. This is done without stopping the flow of the product in the pipeline. These operations include but are not limited to cleaning and inspecting the pipeline.“

Ergil is owned by German company Äager.

(Source: Aager)

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How China “Took Control” of Exxon’s Iraqi Oilfield

How China Took Control Of Exxon’s Supergiant Iraqi Oilfield

Recent reports suggest that Chinese oil giants China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) are “considering acquiring” U.S. oil titan ExxonMobil‘s 32.7 per cent stake in Iraq’s supergiant West Qurna 1 oil and gas field.

Writing in Oil Price, Simon Watkins says these reports are missing the point.

Click here to read the full story.

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