BP’s field in Iraq has hit the milestone three billion barrel mark, the oil major today confirmed.
The operator’s Rumaila field is producing oil at its highest rate in 27 years.
Since BP joined the partnership to redevelop the field in 2010, output has increased by 40%.
In the past six years, the field has generated $200billion for the Iraqi economy.
Bernard Looney, BP’s chief executive of Upstream, said: “Achieving 3 billion barrels of oil in less than seven years is a fantastic achievement, especially when you consider the challenges the oil and gas industry has faced globally during the past two years. Despite this challenging environment the BP team, working shoulder-to-shoulder with our colleagues at PetroChina and SOC, safely delivered increased production and important oil revenues for Iraq.”
The Rumaila Operating Organisation (ROO)is comprised of BP, PetroChina and the South Oil Company of Iraq.
The site’s producing wells have increased by 50% under ROO’s stewardship.
A BP spokesperson said:”In addition to the active drilling programme, one of the world’s largest water injection projects was completed to boost output in areas where reservoir pressure had fallen after half a century of production. Between March 2013 and October 2016, water injection increased from 60,000 to 900,000 barrels per day following renovation of the Qarmat Ali water treatment plant, five pumping stations and associated pipelines.
“The refurbishment of other facilities also continues across the field. Rumaila’s degassing stations now treat around 1.8 million barrels per day of oil and produced water – volumes of fluids not seen since 1979.”
Watch a video of the field’s construction here.
Recommended for you
