Iraqi authorities don't have issue with Gazprom Neft projects in Kurdistan - Dyukov
BAGHDAD. Oct 8 (Interfax) - The Iraqi authorities do not have issues with Gazprom Neft's projects in Kurdistan, company head Alexander Dyukov told journalists.
"Iraq's federal authorities in Baghdad know about the projects that we're implementing in Iraqi Kurdistan. They have no issues with Gazprom Neft," he said.
Gazprom Neft is implementing two projects in Kurdistan: Shakal and Sarkala. It also operates the Badra project in Iraq.
"We did core testing at Shakal and the information that we obtained is being integrated with geophysical well logging and seismics. As a result, we will get a geological model, hydrodynamic model, which will enable us to do a new technical and economic assessment of the block and after this we will make the decision on continuing work at the Shakal block," Dyukov said.
"At Sarkala, we've completed construction of three wells, high-rate wells. We have now reached the production plateau of 35,000 barrels per day. This is a fairly decent amount. And there are plans to build one more well. We plan to maintain production at least at this level," Dyukov said.
"During the drilling of this fourth well we will test nearby horizons, another formation. And if this formation confirms its productivity, we can talk about increasing production at this field. This project is making good progress, we're developing oil infrastructure that will enable us to develop and transfer this oil," Dyukov said.