Iraqi oil project taps Chinese expertise
A groundbreaking ceremony is held for the new operation headquarters of the West Qurna 1 oilfield in Basra, Iraq, on Wednesday. CUI HAIPEI/CHINA DAILYIraq has experienced a mutually beneficial oil and gas partnership with China, and anticipates a fresh beginning following China National Petroleum Corporation, or CNPC, taking over from ExxonMobil as the lead contractor for the West Qurna 1 oilfield, officials have said.
On New Year's Day, nearly 200 guests attended a groundbreaking ceremony of the new operation headquarters of the project in Basra, Iraq's second-largest city and most important port hub.
Hayan Abdul-Ghani, Iraq's deputy prime minister for energy affairs and oil minister, said via video that the field's production has now reached 550,000 barrels a day. He lauded the Chinese company for providing sufficient job opportunities and services to local communities.
West Qurna 1, located about 50 kilometers northwest of Basra, is a major oilfield with the largest production potential in Iraq. It has an annual crude oil output of more than 25 million metric tons with recoverable reserves of more than 22 billion barrels.
Leading operations of West Qurna 1 reflects the shared vision of Chinese and Iraqi leaders, deepening economic and trade cooperation, said Chen Mingzhuo, general manager of the project.
"It also serves as our commitment to bolstering Iraq's economy and playing a part in its journey toward prosperity," he said.
Iraq has long relied on oil exports for 90 percent of its revenue and the new operation center is essential for the field to further increase production.
Spanning 800,000 square meters, the upcoming complex will entail a total construction area of about 50,000 square meters. It is slated for completion in two phases, with the first phase scheduled for 2027 and the second for 2028.
The initial phase can house 540 employees with two production command center buildings, a canteen, a multipurpose building, a clinic, a maintenance workshop and other support facilities.
The CNPC successfully completed the handover across seven fields within six months, with the comprehensive handover carried out, the group said in a news release.
By last year, the average yearly production had surged to 541,000 barrels a day. Production has steadied at 550,000 barrels a day, hitting a record peak of 568,000 barrels on July 28.
The achievements were made with the work of 2,569 staff members of West Qurna 1, coming from more than 10 countries, including China, Japan and Indonesia, with 76 Chinese employees.
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