The 30,000 b/d capacity Atrush field (Taqa 39.9% op, Shamaran 20.1%, Marathon 15%, KRG 25%) hit a monthly high of 26,800 b/d in October. After starting up in July 2017, Atrush output slumped in early 2018 to just 12,500 b/d in April due to “unexpectedly high concentrations of salts flowed back by two wells.” August output was then hit by unplanned pipeline-downtime and Q3 production averaged a disappointing 21,700 b/d. Q4 production should exceed the Q1 high-water mark of 23,600 b/d. Shamaran CEO Chris Bruijnzeels says the field has “more well capacity than we can produce through our facilities” and two early production facilities are set to boost capacity to 50,000 b/d in 2019. Shamaran agreed to buy out Marathon’s 15% stake in June (MEES, 15 June), and expects the deal to close by the end of the year, which will leave the Vancouver headquartered firm with a 35.1% stake.