N. Iraq oil exports stop, storage full

KIRKUK, Iraq, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Iraq has stopped exports via its northern pipeline because storage tanks in Turkey have been filled.

Abdul Razzak Mohammed al-Jiboori of the North Oil Co., a state-run firm, said levels will be drawn down over the next few days after expected sales.

Iraq Directory reports the storage reservoirs in Ceyhan, Turkey, reached 6.8 million barrels of oil produced from the Kirkuk oil fields.

This is a major feat considering the pipeline from Kirkuk to Ceyhan was mostly offline since 2003 because of attacks from insurgents.

In August the Iraq Oil Ministry said repairs and revamped security of the pipeline would improve it.

Iraq was averaging about 2 million barrels per day production last year but ended November 2007 averaging 2.4 million bpd, largely because of northern improvements.