Released July 24, 2025 | GALWAY, IRELAND
en
Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--A series of drone attacks has forced oil companies operating a number of oil fields in the disputed Kurdistan region of Iraq to shut in more than 200,000 barrels per day (B/D) of production.
Located in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, the Tawke, Peshkabir and Ain Sifni oilfields were hit by drone attacks, forcing the shut-in. The attacks were confirmed by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and are the latest in a series of attacks on oil fields in the region. "Although the attacks did not result in any casualties, they caused significant damage to the infrastructure of the fields," a statement from KRG's Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) read. "We strongly condemn such attacks on the economic infrastructure of the Kurdistan Region."
Days previously, drone attacks hit the Sarsang field operated by HKN Energy (Erbil, Iraq) and facilities in Baadre and the Khurmala field, operated by U.S. company Hunt Oil (Dallas, Texas). No group claimed responsibility, but accusations were made that pro-Iraq militants were responsible. Iraq is the second-largest producer of oil in the OPEC group after Saudi Arabia. It is in dispute with the Kurdistan region, which wants autonomy and control of its own local oil and gas assets, including the massive Kirkuk field that is close to redevelopment. In April, Industrial Info reported that U.K. energy major BP (NYSE:BP) (London, England) had been granted final permission for the redevelopment of a number of oilfields in the disputed Kirkuk region of northern Iraq. For additional information, see April 4, 2025, article - BP Seals Deal for Redevelopment of Iraq's Kirkuk Oil Fields.
Norwegian oil and gas operator DNO ASA (Oslo, Norway) confirmed that operations at its Tawke license in Kurdistan have been temporarily suspended following three explosions, "one involving a small storage tank at Tawke and the other involving surface processing equipment at Peshkabir. There have been no injuries. The damage assessment is underway and the Company expects to restart production once the assessment is completed."
Industry body the Association of the Petroleum Industry of Kurdistan (Apikur), which represents foreign oil companies operating in the area, called on Iraqi and local authorities to do more: "These attacks threatened the lives and safety of our predominantly Iraqi workforce and expatriate staff of various nationalities, and also damaged facilities. Following the strikes, the operators are assessing damage to production and other field facilities. The majority of APIKUR member companies, including those not targeted, have announced suspension of production totaling over 200,000 barrels per day."
"Our member companies are committed to resume oil production and sales as soon as possible," said Myles B. Caggins III, spokesman for the Association of the Petroleum Industry of Kurdistan. "And we stand ready to put our oil into the Iraq-Türkiye Pipeline once agreement is reached between Baghdad, Erbil and the companies." Industrial Info is tracking 51 oil and gas related projects in Iraq worth more than US$7 billion in investment. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Project Database can click here for the reports.
In related news, Kurdistan is hoping that negotiations will reopen the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline from Turkey to Iraq so that it can export oil easily again. The pipeline, with a capacity of 1.6 million barrels per day, has been offline since 2023 after an arbitration court ruled that Turkey had to pay US$1.5 billion in damages for unauthorized Iraqi exports between 2014 and 2018. Turkey has refused and recently announced an end to the existing Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline deal from next summer, a deal that has existed since the 1970s. In its place it has submitted a draft proposal to Iraq to renew and expand an energy agreement that would cover working together in oil, gas, petrochemicals and electricity.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).
Located in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, the Tawke, Peshkabir and Ain Sifni oilfields were hit by drone attacks, forcing the shut-in. The attacks were confirmed by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and are the latest in a series of attacks on oil fields in the region. "Although the attacks did not result in any casualties, they caused significant damage to the infrastructure of the fields," a statement from KRG's Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) read. "We strongly condemn such attacks on the economic infrastructure of the Kurdistan Region."
Days previously, drone attacks hit the Sarsang field operated by HKN Energy (Erbil, Iraq) and facilities in Baadre and the Khurmala field, operated by U.S. company Hunt Oil (Dallas, Texas). No group claimed responsibility, but accusations were made that pro-Iraq militants were responsible. Iraq is the second-largest producer of oil in the OPEC group after Saudi Arabia. It is in dispute with the Kurdistan region, which wants autonomy and control of its own local oil and gas assets, including the massive Kirkuk field that is close to redevelopment. In April, Industrial Info reported that U.K. energy major BP (NYSE:BP) (London, England) had been granted final permission for the redevelopment of a number of oilfields in the disputed Kirkuk region of northern Iraq. For additional information, see April 4, 2025, article - BP Seals Deal for Redevelopment of Iraq's Kirkuk Oil Fields.
Norwegian oil and gas operator DNO ASA (Oslo, Norway) confirmed that operations at its Tawke license in Kurdistan have been temporarily suspended following three explosions, "one involving a small storage tank at Tawke and the other involving surface processing equipment at Peshkabir. There have been no injuries. The damage assessment is underway and the Company expects to restart production once the assessment is completed."
Industry body the Association of the Petroleum Industry of Kurdistan (Apikur), which represents foreign oil companies operating in the area, called on Iraqi and local authorities to do more: "These attacks threatened the lives and safety of our predominantly Iraqi workforce and expatriate staff of various nationalities, and also damaged facilities. Following the strikes, the operators are assessing damage to production and other field facilities. The majority of APIKUR member companies, including those not targeted, have announced suspension of production totaling over 200,000 barrels per day."
"Our member companies are committed to resume oil production and sales as soon as possible," said Myles B. Caggins III, spokesman for the Association of the Petroleum Industry of Kurdistan. "And we stand ready to put our oil into the Iraq-Türkiye Pipeline once agreement is reached between Baghdad, Erbil and the companies." Industrial Info is tracking 51 oil and gas related projects in Iraq worth more than US$7 billion in investment. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Project Database can click here for the reports.
In related news, Kurdistan is hoping that negotiations will reopen the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline from Turkey to Iraq so that it can export oil easily again. The pipeline, with a capacity of 1.6 million barrels per day, has been offline since 2023 after an arbitration court ruled that Turkey had to pay US$1.5 billion in damages for unauthorized Iraqi exports between 2014 and 2018. Turkey has refused and recently announced an end to the existing Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline deal from next summer, a deal that has existed since the 1970s. In its place it has submitted a draft proposal to Iraq to renew and expand an energy agreement that would cover working together in oil, gas, petrochemicals and electricity.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).
