Drone strikes shut oilfields in Iraq’s Kurdistan, cut output by up to 150,000 bpd
Several oil fields have interrupted operations due to significant infrastructure damage, the Kurdistan region of the region said.
Drone attacks for a third day against the oil fields in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region in Iraq reduced raw production from 140,000 to 150,000 barrels per day, two energy officials announced on Wednesday, while infrastructure damage forced several closures.
It was not immediately clear who was behind the attacks, and no group claimed responsibility.
Total production in the region was around 285,000 barrels per day (BPD), Iraqi energy in Kurdistan said.
Several fields of oil have interrupted operations due to significant infrastructure damage, the Kurdistan region of the region of Natural Resources said, adding that attacks also aimed to threaten the safety of civilian workers in the energy sector.
Gulf Keystone Petroleum said that he had closed production in Shaikan Field, one of the largest oil discoveries in the Iraqi Kurdistan region due to nearby attacks.
“As a security precaution, GKP has decided to temporarily close production and took measures to protect the staff. The company’s assets were not affected,” the company said in a statement.
Gulf Keystone has a production sharing contract with the Iraqi regional government of Kurdistan (KRG) with a work interest of 80% in the Shaikan license, located about 60 kilometers (37 miles) northwest of the capital, Erbil.
“A certain number of terrorist attacks have been led by a breathtaking drone on the oil fields of Tawke, Peshkabour and Ain Sifni in the independent administration of Zakho and the district of Shekhan in the province of Duhok,” said the Krg Ministry of Natural Resources.
The Norwegian oil and gas company, which operates the oil fields of Tawke and Peshkabour in the Zakho region, which borders Turkey, said that it temporarily suspended production in the fields following explosions that caused any injury.
“The evaluation of damage is underway and the company plans to restart production once the assessment is completed,” said DNO.
DNO’s shares have dropped approximately 5% after the attack and have been ready for their worst day since June 25.
The fields were attacked by three drones loaded with bombs, but there were no victim, only material damage, the service to combat Kurdistan terrorism published on Facebook.
Apikur, a group of eight oil companies operating in Iraqi Kurdistan, said later on Wednesday that a majority of its members, including those who are not targeted, had suspended production.
“The operators assess damage to production and other facilities on the ground,” said Apikur.
