Kuwait’s plans to develop potential offshore oil and gas deposits have long been hamstrung by continued uncertainty over its maritime boundaries. The planned development of the Partitioned Neutral Zone’s (PNZ) Dorra gas field has prompted renewed criticism from Iran and could yet obstruct development (MEES, 7 July).
Kuwait kicked off its first offshore well in decades in late 2022 after years of delay, but in opting to drill it close to Iranian waters it risked development of any discovery being obstructed by this same dispute (MEES, 1 September). The NO-0001 (Nokhetha-1) well is also close to an as-yet undermarketed portion of the Iraqi boundary, and bilateral relations over this boundary are also heating up (see map). (CONTINUED - 470 WORDS)
