Lukoil finance chief Pavel Zhdanov told the Russian firm’s Q2 earnings call on 27 August that output from the key West Qurna-2 field in southern Iraq had “ramped up to 400,000 b/d,” during the quarter, up from the previous level of 350,000 b/d.

And he confirmed plans to boost output to 480,000 b/d next year. “Our further plans on that project, the next step, would be 480,000 b/d.” The first 30,000 b/d increment, slated for later this year, would see initial output from the deeper Yamama formation. Whilst “next year, we’ll ramp up to 450,000 [b/d] at Mishrif from the current 400,000 b/d,” he says in reference to the currently-producing formation. (CONTINUED - 236 WORDS)