“The Middle East remains an area of strategic interest to Gazprom Neft, being a region with a rich resource base, and a demonstrable willingness to allow access to investors,” said Vadim Yakovlev, first deputy chief executive officer. The company continues to evaluate opportunities for the further development, independently and in partnership with other companies, Yakovlev said.
Elsewhere in Kurdistan, Gazprom Neft is involved in projects on the Shakal and Garmian blocks. The company holds 80% interest in Shakal (the remainder held by the Kurdish government) and is operator of Garmian with 40% (along with the Kurdish government, 20%, and Canada’s WesternZagros, 40%).
Garmian block began oil flow in 2011, with commercial oil shipments commencing in 2015 (OGJ Online, June 1, 2011). Expansion of field infrastructure—including completion of a high and low-pressure separation processing line, two 17,000-bbl-capacity reservoirs, and reconstruction of the oil-tanker loading system—was completed in time for the commissioning of Sarqala-3.