Operators in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq have confirmed the restart of oil production and exports since late June (MEES, 3 July). In 13 July updates, Gulf Keystone and Shamaran Petroleum said that operations had resumed at Shaikhan, Atrush and Sarsang, respectively. Gulf Keystone said that Shaikan production recommenced on 24 June and was successfully ramped up to over 43,000 b/d, close to its levels prior to the US-Iran War beginning in February. Shamaran, which holds stakes at the HKN-operated Atrush and Sarsang, said output at the former had reached around 37,000 b/d and was closing in on pre-war levels of 40,000 b/d.
At Sarsang, which was hit by drone strikes by Iran-backed Iraqi militias during the conflict (MEES, 6 March), production stood at 7,000 b/d. HKN “is working to determine the most efficient solution to return Sarsang production to full capacity as quickly as possible, depending on completing the field damage assessment and confirming availability of long-lead items required for repairs,” Shamaran said. (CONTINUED - 232 WORDS)