OREANDA-NEWS. Gazprom Neft, the operator of the Badra oil field in Iraq, announces that deliveries of crude oil have started from the field to reservoirs of the Central Gathering Point (CGP). Two wells are currently producing oil at the deposit. Over the coming month, once the reservoirs have been filled, oil will be supplied into Iraq's main pipeline system which connects the deposit to the Basra export terminal.

Badra oil field in Iraq

Gazprom Neft began industrial oil production at the Badra oil field in May 2014. Comprehensive testing of the deposit's crude oil preparation and transportation systems began at the same time. Commissioning and start-up operations have been completed at the CGP, on the export pipeline and the oil tank farm, with water and power supply systems and other industrial facilities also successfully completing the testing process.

New infrastructure to facilitate full-scale development of the deposit has been built at the oil field, including the first phase of the CGP with a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day and a 165-kilometre pipeline connecting Badra to Iraq's main pipeline system, which was completed in March 2014. Two wells are currently in production at the deposit, a third is soon to begin production and drilling of a fourth well commenced in June. Once reservoir capacity is reached, the company will begin commercial oil deliveries to the pipeline. The project's initial production volumes are estimated at around 15,000 barrels daily. Peak production of 170,000 barrels per day or 8.5 million tonnes per year will be reached in 2017 and will remain at this level for 7 years.