New, Reopened Iraqi Oil Wells Reverse Declines
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Leaby said big problems persist, including a lack of adequate funding from the Ministry of Oil. Mr. Leaby's independent-minded South Oil has jostled with the ministry over funding and control in the past. "We [will be] able to maintain this level of production and even increase it if the ministry renders us financial and administrative support," he said, without specifying any financial requirements.
Mr. Leaby said South Oil plans to raise output to 2.25 million barrels a day by the end of this year. Many production forecasts from Iraqi and U.S. officials in Baghdad have proved too optimistic in the past. U.S. military engineers, working with South Oil engineers on several projects, say Western contractors are expected to finish by the end of the year a handful of big jobs that could help bring new production.
One of those projects is hooking up and turning on more unfinished or capped wells, according to U.S. Navy Capt. Michael Sherbak, chief of oil projects for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Baghdad. The wells were drilled years ago. Some were never completed because of a lack of parts, while others were shut down prematurely. Army engineers and their contractors are planning to help South Oil get 60 of these wells on line by year end, Capt. Sherbak said.
http://framehosting.dowjonesnews.com...3370002&Take=1