Processing capacity at the Gharaf field operated by Iraqi state-firm DQOC has hit 250,000 b/d following the completion of three new 50,000 b/d processing trains by China’s CPECC (CNPC’s engineering subsidiary) and Italian partner PEG. At least one of the new trains is now operational, enabling Gharaf production to hit 140,000 b/d.
However, Malaysian operator Petronas has faced “schedule delays” in its drilling campaigns, and so wellhead capacity is well below 250,000 b/d. A source says that Petronas is “preparing new drilling contracts” but the firm is “two-three years behind” on fully reaching its 230,000 b/d plateau production target at Gharaf. State drilling firm IDC was awarded a contract in late-2019 to drill 28 new wells in Gharaf but work only re-started in July 2021 after Covid-related restrictions at the field (MEES, 12 November 2021). (CONTINUED - 160 WORDS)