Turkey starts study of Iraq gas pipeline

ANKARA, Turkey, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Turkey has launched a feasibility study for a natural gas pipeline connecting northern Iraq's fields to the Turkish port, parallel to the oil pipelines.

Iraq has large natural gas reserves but the sector is undeveloped, with much of the associated gas burned with nowhere to go.

Turkey is eyeing Iraq's gas as it further solidifies its role as a main transport hub for the world's hydrocarbons.

BOTAS, the Turkish Pipeline Corp., announced it will study its end of the prospective natural gas pipeline to Yumurtalik. It will largely run the same route as the twin oil pipelines from Kirkuk to the Mediterranean port in Turkey, Today's Zaman reports. (The pipeline destination is often referred to as the port of Ceyhan.)

BOTAS and the Turkish Petroleum Corp, TPOA, will head up its side of the project, with the Iraq Oil Ministry handling the Iraqi side. BOTAS will hold the tender for the 30 to 40 inch pipeline and various pump stations, and offer it for bid on the international market.

Once the northern Iraq gas fields are developed, 353 billion cubic feet of natural gas will flow to Yumurtalyk, The Anatolian News Agency reports. That which isn't consumed in Turkey will be loaded onto tankers as liquefied natural gas.

It follows on a memorandum of understanding signed between Turkey and Iraq energy ministers last August, and energy talks between U.S. and Turkish presidents in Washington earlier this month.

Presidents Abdullah Gul and George W. Bush met at the White House and agreed to work together with Iraq to develop its oil and gas sector, Turkish Energy Minister Hilmi Guler told CNN-Turk.

Iraq has 111 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves. The country is also in talks to develop the Akkas gas field in Anbar province, which would send gas to Syria and possibly to Europe as well.