Iraq: Oil and Petroleum

HL Deb 14 July 2003 vol 651 cc86-7WA

Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many oil wells, refineries and related facilities are now functioning in Iraq; whether Iraq is now self-sufficient in petroleum products; and when they expect it to be producing for export. [HL3768]

Lord Sainsbury of Turville

As at February 2003 there were approximately 1,500 to 1,700 wells in Iraq producing oil and 10 operating refineries. (Source US Dept of Energy, Energy Information Administration). No comparable statistics have been made available since the end of the hostilities.

Current Iraqi oil production is estimated to be 800,000 to 900,000 barrels per day. This compares to production of 2.5 million barrels per day in February 2003 (Source Platts Analytics Service).

Iraq is still importing some petroleum products to meet domestic demand.

The first tender for Iraq oil produced since the end of hostilities was issued on 3 July 2003 for the sale of 8 million barrels of Basra crude. 9.5 million barrels of Iraqi crude were successfully tendered in June. This was oil produced pre-war and stored during the hostilities.