Iraq advances seismic survey operations at Abu Khaima oilfield near southern desert border areas

Technical and exploratory survey activities continue within the Abu Khaima oilfield in Iraq's southern Muthanna Governorate, aiming to prepare a comprehensive technical database that paves the way for decisive future investment and development choices. These ongoing field operations are carried out through close coordination between Iraqi government authorities and international operating companies to evaluate subsurface hydrocarbon resources along this southern border region. Dhi Qar Oil Company officially confirmed the continuation of two-dimensional seismic survey activities across the field, highlighting that the primary goal is updating and reinforcing the geological and geophysical database. These specialized subsurface measurements serve as an essential foundation for advancing upcoming appraisal phases and structuring future reservoir development programs across promising oil-bearing formations. Field exploration currently covers an expansive territory of approximately 407 square kilometers, executed by the Sixth Seismic Crew of Iraq's Oil Exploration Company. Field assignments proceed in complete technical coordination with the Chinese operator, Abu Khaima Petroleum Company, as part of the operational commitments outlined under the Ministry of Oil's fifth complementary and sixth licensing rounds. Specialized engineering teams from Dhi Qar Oil Company, represented by the Muthanna Oil Department and the Abu Khaima Field Division, supervise ongoing field operations on a daily basis. This direct operational oversight focuses on employing national expertise, maximizing the contributions of local technical personnel, and maintaining rigorous performance standards required for specialized seismic acquisition programs across the Iraqi energy landscape. The ongoing seismic acquisition at Abu Khaima aims to gather detailed geological data to map deep structures, aiding in the assessment of potential reserves and guiding technical exploration pathways. The two-dimensional seismic method relies on generating acoustic waves and capturing their reflections from subsurface rock layers. Processing these signals provides clearer imagery of buried structures and identifies prospective zones that justify further appraisal. However, completing seismic surveys does not in itself confirm commercial reserves without subsequent evaluation and exploratory drilling. Abu Khaima holds distinctive geographic significance due to its location in Muthanna Governorate near Iraq's borders with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, encompassing an estimated total area of 1,809 square kilometers. Historical exploration records trace the field's initial discovery back to 1975, when drilling operations on an exploratory well penetrated the Najmah formation. To this day, the field continues to contain only a single drilled well. Several international entities, including Chinese companies ZhenHua Oil and Geo-Jade Petroleum, previously submitted competitive bids to develop the field. ZhenHua secured the development rights approximately one and a half years ago, aligning with Iraq's ongoing strategy to collaborate with specialized international firms to upgrade neglected assets and expand domestic hydrocarbon production. These exploration activities fit into Iraq's long-term strategy to expand crude production capacity to between 8 and 10 million barrels per day by 2030, alongside an earlier interim milestone of reaching 7 million barrels daily by 2027. However, realizing these strategic ambitions involves overcoming structural constraints related to OPEC production allocations and urgent requirements to upgrade export infrastructure. Proposed export alternatives include expanding pipeline outlets beyond the Gulf, such as routes connecting to Turkey's Ceyhan, Syria's Baniyas, and Jordan's Aqaba terminals, while accelerating associated gas capture initiatives alongside international partners.