The Iraqi government is forming an executive committee to operate giant Majnoon oil field after the withdrawal of Royal Dutch Shell PLC (OGJ Online, Oct. 30, 2017).
Shell holds a 45% interest in the service contract. State-owned Petronas of Malaysia, with a 30% interest, confirmed it, too, will withdraw from the development, according to press reports.
The field, in southern Iraq, produces about 220,000 b/d of oil.
Oil Minister Jabbar Ali Hussein Al-Luiebi said the government will maintain plans to raise Majnoon output to more than 400,000 b/d.
Also in southern Iraq, national companies led by Thi-Qar Oil Co. will develop Nasiriya oil field in Thi-Qar Governate, Al-Luiebi said.
The aim is to raise production to more than 200,000 b/d. Capacity is now 90,000 b/d, according to Al-Luiebi.
The minister also said experimental production has begun at the rate of 20,000 b/d from Sabba oil field in Thi-Qar Governate. Thi-Qar Oil and Basrah Oil Co. are developing the field, which was discovered in 1950.
The first Sabba well was drilled in 1975. Three more wells were drilled in 1977 and 1979.