Iraq’s decision earlier this year to tap Gazprom Neft to develop the 90,000 b/d-capacity Nasiriya oilfield (MEES, 9 February) is raising more questions than answers. A senior industry source muses to MEES that while choosing the Russian state firm’s oil-focused subsidiary is partly political, the move is largely influenced by Gazprom’s failure to raise output at Iraq’s Badra oil field.
Iraq wants to negotiate an “integrated Nasiriya oilfield development project” with Gazprom, apparently revamping old plans to raise the field’s capacity to over 300,000 b/d in tandem with a 150,000 b/d refinery. (CONTINUED - 365 WORDS)
