Canada’s Shamaran confirmed in its Q1 results on 8 May that the Heavy oil extended well test (HOEWT) began at the Atrush field in mid-April. The field’s partners are testing heavy oil from the Atrush-3 well, and plan to dilute it with volumes from the nearby Chiya Khere-10 well. The heavy oil facilities can handle 5,000 b/d, implying that total capacity has increased to 35,000 b/d.
Atrush is undergoing a shareholder revamp, with Marathon selling its 15% stake to partners Shamaran and UAE’s Taqa. Shamaran says it expects the deal to close shortly, following which the partners will be Taqa 47.4%op, Shamaran 27.6%, KRG 25% (MEES, 4 January). Output in Q1 dipped from 27,400 b/d the previous quarter to 26,300 b/d. Shamaran attributed this to an “unplanned export pipeline shutdown, the repair of a leak in the water injection pipeline, as well as intervention to replace an electric submersible pump.” (CONTINUED - 148 WORDS)