Production at the Peshkabir oil field in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq has ramped up to 50,000 bpd, meeting the end-2018 target ahead of schedule and below budget, according to a statement released by the Norwegian oil and gas operator DNO ASA on Tuesday.
DNO ASA operates the Tawke PSC (Production Sharing Contract) in which London-based Genel Energy, an independent oil and gas exploration and production company, has a 25 percent working interest.
'One of two recently completed wells, Peshkabir-7, is producing over 10,000 bpd from nine Cretaceous zones through temporary test facilities and exported,' the statement read.
The other, Peshkabir-6, drilled as a production well, but with the additional objective of appraising deeper formations, has established a deeper Cretaceous oil/water contact level than previously estimated, it said, adding further testing was underway, including test production of multiple producing zones.
According to the statement, the Peshkabir-8 well, spud in late August, is drilling ahead at 2,325 meters. Once completed, the rig is scheduled to move to spud Peshkabir-9 in November.
“Four other wells at Peshkabir now produce at a combined rate of close to 40,000 bpd following a workover at Peshkabir-3 which boosted production from that well to 11,000 bpd from 8,000 bpd,' it said.
Peshkabir production is processed through temporary test facilities until commissioning of a central processing facility by the end of 2018, which will have a capacity of up to 50,000 bpd, according to the statement.
The company is also installing a 10-inch pipeline from Peshkabir to Fishkhabur with a capacity of 60,000 bpd. Field production is currently transported to Fishkhabur by tanker truck and a 6-inch pipeline, it added.
DNO ASA also noted at the Tawke field, the Tawke-50 shallow Jeribe well drilled to a depth of 320 meters would be put into production within several days.
'The Tawke-49 Cretaceous well is drilling ahead at 2,245 meters and will be completed later this month. Two additional Tawke wells, one each in the Jeribe and the Cretaceous, will be drilled by the end of the year,' it said.
Workovers are also underway at two wells, DNO ASA said, adding Tawke production currently stands at just over 80,000 bpd.
In a separate statement, Genel Energy said discussions were ongoing with the operator regarding the Enhanced Oil Recovery project, under which excess gas from Peshkabir would be used to boost oil production from the Tawke license.
According to the press release, Genel Energy is one of the largest London-listed independent oil producers, as well as the largest holder of reserves and resources in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq.
Through its Bina Bawi and Miran fields, the company is positioned to be a cornerstone provider of Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) gas to Turkey under the KRG-Turkey Gas Sales Agreement, it said.
By Hale Turkes
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr