Iraq’s Oil Ministry is actively engaging companies in critical discussions on lowering contracted production plateau targets on its key upstream capacity expansion. But progress on a number of vital oil infrastructure projects has slowed, MEES learns.

Baghdad also appears to be fast tracking the search for an alternative to ExxonMobil to take over operatorship of the giant West Qurna-1 field development, where plateau production of 2.825mn b/d (which would make it the world’s number two field) is targeted, with a contractual plateau duration of seven years. (CONTINUED - 754 WORDS)