Soran University

Faculty of Engineering
Chemical ENG. Department

Petroleum & properties Report

Ahmad Hamid Karasool

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1. Introduction
The oil and gas industry is one of the largest sectors in the world in terms of dollar value,
generating an estimated $3.3 trillion in revenue annually. Oil is crucial to the global economic
framework, especially for its largest producers

Kurdistan’s economy is highly dependent on the production and sale of oil. It is estimated by the
US Geological Survey that there are approximately 40 billion barrels of oil and 60 trillion cubic
feet of gas in Kurdistan, giving the region the potential to be a significant new global energy
player. Although autonomous since 1991, it was not until 2004 that Kurdistan’s status was
officially recognized by the Transitional Administrative Law and reaffirmed by Article 117 of
the Constitution of Iraq (the “Constitution”), approved by the Iraqi people in a referendum on 15
October 2005.

These reserve figures are likely to increase substantially as further exploration proceeds, and
field appraisal and development allows for more resources to be moved into the proved and
probable reserve categories. Reserves of major fields found in the region are shown in Table 1.

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2. Oil production
Much of Kurdistan’s oil enterprise anchors itself at Erbil, the stable strong-hold of the KRG in
Northern Iraq. With extraction beginning in 2007, Erbil hosts Chevron, Exxon Mobile, Hess,
Total and many other major petroleum players. (source). A new pipeline began running in early
2014, which exists in fully recognized KRG territory. It connects the Khurmala oil field south of
Erbil across the Turkish border and onto a port at the Mediterranean Sea for foreign trade.
(source). Petroleum spurs a boom for the region: Iraqi-Kurdistan’s gross GDP grew significantly
since the 2007 oil liberalization, jumping from from $800 a decade ago to $5,600 in 2012.
Currently producing 350,000 million barrels of oil per day, by end of 2015, KRG will produce 1
million barrels of oil per day, according to KRG statement released in November 17th.
produced 38 kbpd, Shaikhan 8.7 kbpd, Taq Taq 84 kbpd, Khor Mor 20 kbpd (condensate and
LPG), and Khurmala 84 kbpd. On an estimated basis, average 2014 production came from
Tawke (91 kbpd in 2014), Taq Taq (103 kbpd), Khurmala (approximately 100 kbpd), and
Shaikan (23 kbpd), with condensate and LPG from Khor Mor (26 kbpd). Smaller amounts have
been produced from Sarqala, Barda Rash, Swara Tika, Demir Dagh, Akri Bijeel, and Miran
under long-term tests or early production systems, totalling about 50 kbpd in 2014. .

Figure 1

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3. Gas production
Gas production in the KRI stands at around 3–4 bcm annually, 82 and is currently entirely for
domestic use; the Khor Mor field supplies power plants at Bazian and Erbil, while the Summail
field, which was supplying the Dohuk power plant, has run into production problems. The
addition of Kirkuk to the KRG’s control adds about 2.5 bcm annually, which could increase if
more currently flared gas is captured. However, most of this gas is required for local power
generation. Miran and Bina Bawi could produce about 11 bcm between them, with 5 bcm from
an expansion of Khor Mor and 6 bcm from Chemchemal (depending on a resolution of the
MNR’s dispute with Dana Gas). Flared gas from Khurmala could add another 2 bcm. Figure 10
shows an outlook for KRI gas production and demand, assuming timely development of required
infrastructure. With about 8 bcm per year of current demand, there is a deficit, reflecting oilfired
power generation that could be substituted with gas. Conversion of power plants to
combinedcycle operation will reduce demand in the short term, as will the region’s economic
crisis. Gas demand is mostly for power, with growing use in industry, initially primarily for
cement. A gas grid for residential and commercial use could be developed in future covering the
major cities; the Kurdish region is cold in winter (Sulaymaniyah average January temperature of
3.8 °C, with snow frequent). However, given the relatively small population, and the landlocked
location which is unfavourable for large-scale gas-based industries, the domestic market is likely
to remain modest. For comparison, the KRG foresaw 16 bcm of domestic demand by 2015, 83
but this has not been reached due to the economic crisis and delays in connecting power plants to
gas supply.

Figure 2.

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References
1. Abul Failat, Y. (2013). ‘The Iraqi Federal Oil and Gas Law 2011: Exploration,
Exploitation and Expropriation’, International Energy Law Review(4), 141–53

2. Beblawi, H. (1987). ‘The Rentier State in the Arab World’, Arab Studies Quarterly, 9(4),
383–98. BP (2015). BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2015.

3. Mahdavy, H. (1970). ‘The Patterns and Problems of Economic Development in Rentier

States: the case of Iran’, in M. Cook, Studies in the Economic History of the Middle East
(pp. 37–61), London: Oxford University Press.

4. World Bank. (2015). The Kurdistan Region of Iraq: Assessing the Economic and Social
Impact of the Syrian Conflict and ISIS, World Bank Publications.