Iraq’s Oil Ministry this week announced a 2D seismic contact for exploration Block 12 in southwest Iraq, which is operated by the Bashneft subsidiary of Russia’s Rosneft. The Russian state giant made a major discovery in the Block in 2018, the ‘Salman prospect’ (MEES, 25 May 2018). A development timeline of the field remains unclear, but the seismic work is likely geared toward determining the extent of the potential field, and suggests a field development plan (and eventual production) are still some way off.