Bush says Southern Iraqi oil fields secure

March 24, 2003
Southern Iraqi oil fields are secure, and coalition forces are making good progress to take control of the rest of the country, US President George W. Bush told reporters Sunday.

Maureen Lorenzetti
Washington Editor

WASHINGTON, DC, Mar. 24 -- Southern Iraqi oil fields are secure, and coalition forces are making good progress to take control of the rest of the country, US President George W. Bush told reporters Mar. 23. But he cautioned that coalition efforts are just beginning what could be a "tough fight" to oust Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

"(Gen.) Tommy Franks put a plan in place that moved on those oil fields quickly, and at least in the south, they are secure," Bush said. "And that is positive news for all of us. Most of the south is now in coalition hands. Obviously, there's pockets of resistance in a place like Basra."

The Iraqis damaged only 9 of the 500 Iraqi wells in the Rumaila oil fields before coalition forces took control, US military officials said Mar. 22 in Doha, Qatar. Later in the week firefighting had to be suspended because a group of Iraqi military disguised as civilians tried to recapture some of the wells. US officials familiar with the area said it was surprising to find "occasional pockets" of resistance but stressed that the fields were not in danger, although there was evidence that several wells had been sabotaged. Work was expected to continue within a few days on 7 wells that remained ablaze.

"The oil fields were spared destruction that was intended by the regime because of the effectiveness of these attacks," Brig. Gen. Vince Brooks said.

Coalition special operations forces also captured three key oil terminals in southern Iraq and in the Persian Gulf used to export oil to tankers, Brooks said. Soldiers found weapons, ammunition, and explosives that US military officials believe were meant to have been used to sabotage the area.

"By preventing certain destruction (of the terminals), the coalition has preserved the future of Iraq," Brooks said.

The Bush administration said a key military objective in "Operation Iraqi Freedom" is to preserve the oil fields for the Iraqi people so revenue can be directed to help rebuild the country and heal the economy.

The government of Kuwait is assisting Houston-based Boots & Coots International Well Control Inc. in their efforts to extinguish fires in seven damaged wells. The Department of Defense also awarded a contract to Halliburton Co.'s Kellogg, Brown & Root to put out well fires; the two companies will be working together.

Meanwhile Kuwaiti officials reported Sunday that coalition forces have secured a 140,000 b/d refinery in Basra.

Analysts predicted that it could be several weeks before exports will resume from the United Nations-approved southern port at Mina al-Bakr; there currently are political barriers to resuming exports. Before shipments can resume, the UN must formally agree to resume and likely update its oil-for-aid program. The timetable also is predicated on the cessation of military hostilities, which apparently is not imminent.

According to the US Energy Information Administration, the southern Rumaila field, which extends a short distance into Kuwaiti territory, has a total of 663 wells and produces three streams: Basra Regular; Basra Medium (normally 30° gravity with 2.6% sulfur); and Basra Heavy (normally 22-24° gravity with 3.4% sulfur). Basra Blend normally averages 32° gravity and 1.95% sulfur, but reportedly currently is worse at 29-30° with more than 2% sulfur content, EIA said.

The northern Kirkuk field, first discovered in 1927, is still under Iraqi control, US officials said.

EIA estimates the area has 337 wells and normally produces 35° gravity and 1.97% sulfur crude, although both the gravity and sulfur content are reported to have deteriorated sharply in recent months.

Kirkuk's gravity, for example, has declined to 32-33°, while sulfur content has risen above 2%, possibly a reflection of overpumping, EIA said in a recent Iraq analysis.

Contact Maureen Lorenzetti at [email protected].