Iraq activates deal with HKN Energy to develop Hamrin field

Bazerkan oil field in the city of Maysan, south of the capital Baghdad, Iraq. Photo: Shutterstock Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Iraq’s Hamrin oil field has entered a new phase of expansion with the activation of a development deal with US-based HKN Energy. The step aims to enhance production capacity and recover associated gas as part of the Iraqi Oil Ministry’s goals to maximize the use of hydrocarbon resources. On Saturday, Oil Minister Basim Khudair attended the activation ceremony of the field’s development contract with HKN Energy to expand oil and gas output. The Oil Ministry said that activating the contract is consistent with the government’s aim of achieving maximum use of national resources. The Hamrin field is one of several major initiatives aiming to increase local supplies, export volumes, and generate higher economic returns in the coming years. The ministry also mentioned that the project reflects Baghdad’s desire to attract major international companies, particularly those in the United States and Europe, to invest in the country’s oil and gas sector. The deal will raise oil production to 140,000 barrels per day, as well as associated gas production to 40 million cubic feet per day, establishing the Hamrin field as one of Iraq’s most important oil development projects. The produced gas will not be flared but rather used to power the field’s energy infrastructure and boost production efficiency. The development of the Hamrin field represents an initiative that combines enhanced oil production with optimum use of associated gas, which aligns with the Iraqi government’s objective to minimize waste, improve energy security, and provide added value for the national economy. Earlier in July, Iraqi state-owned North Oil Company (NOC) signed a deal with HKN Energy to develop the Hamrin field in northern Iraq. Khudair confirmed that the step is consistent with the government’s strategy to provide sufficient oil and gas supplies for local consumption while boosting export rates. Despite economic and security issues, the Hamrin field currently has a production capacity ranging between 20,000 and 25,000 barrels per day. The agreement is also part of Baghdad’s aspirations to boost oil output to around seven million barrels per day over the coming few years.