Iraq oil field work will increase capacity

AMARA, Iraq, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Increased rehabilitation in a key Iraqi oil field has been completed, setting the stage for more production and drilling of new wells.

"The rehabilitation of the Sayed Nour oil field, eastern Amara, will immensely contribute to sustaining the overall production capacity of al-Bazarkan oil complex, which already reaches 120,000 barrels per day," a spokesman told the Voices of Iraq news agency.

Iraq produces 2 million bpd from the world's third-largest reserves of oil, which could sustain higher production numbers. The goal of increased production has been hampered by a long list of repairs to a sector mismanaged by Saddam Hussein and held back by U.N. sanctions. It has also been hit hard in the past four plus years by operating in a war zone and with a government unable to spend the necessary capital.

Each of the five Sayed Nour field's wells has a production capacity of 15,000 bpd.

There are also plans to drill new wells in the oil province of Missan, in Bazarkan, Hilfaya and Fakka, which will take two years to complete and boost capacity by 100,000 bpd, the source said.