Iraq has restarted production from Ajeel and Qayara oil fields, two northern assets that suffered heavy damage at the hands of Islamic State militants. The oil ministry announced this week that Ajeel is producing 7,000 b/d with state-firm Northern Oil Company (NOC) aiming to hit 17,000 b/d by the end of the year. The field is also producing 100mn cfd of associated gas. The field produced 28,000 b/d prior to the Islamic State takeover (MEES, 25 July 2014).
As MEES reported last month, Iraq is also pumping 30,000 b/d of heavy oil from Qayara field located 75km north of Ajeel, with “ambitious” plans to raise output to 60,000 b/d by year-end (MEES, 28 September). The oil ministry announced 11 October that Angola’s Sonangol has signed a contract to drill ten wells at the field, and that March is now the target for 60,000 b/d. Sonangol, who operated the field with a 75% stake before the security situation forced the firm out in 2014, says it will drill 100 wells over the next two years. (CONTINUED - 168 WORDS)