Iraq is putting up three natural gas fields for bidding. One is Akkas in Anbar that has 5.6 trillion cubic feet of reserves. Another is Mansuriya in Diyala with 4.5 trillion cubic feet of reserves, and the last is Siba in Basra with 1.13 trillion cubic feet of reserves. Akkas and Mansuriya were originally put up for auction in June 2009. Only one company bid on Akkas, but it was rejected, while none showed interest in Mansuriya.
In total, Iraq has an estimated 112 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, the 11th largest amount in the world. It currently produces 1.64 cubic feet of gas per day, 70% of which is flared at oil fields where the gas is produced as part of the extraction process.
48 companies have been pre-approved for the October bidding round. 45 of the businesses are the same ones that participated in the two rounds of auctions in 2009 for oil and gas fields. Three more, TNK-BP, Itochu Corporation and Kuwait Energy were just added.
The reason for the delay, is that the Oil Ministry is concerned about the lack of interest by these corporations. Iraq has huge untapped potential in natural gas, but like its oil industry, doesn't have the infrastructure to fully exploit it. The government for example, is offering the companies the right to export half of the gas produced, but there’s currently no way to do that. The Akkas field is only a few miles from Syria, while Siba borders Kuwait, but there are no pipelines connecting the countries to transport the gas. Iraq also needs storage facilities, better roads, and to provide security. Businesses have also complained that the terms offered by the Oil Ministry are confusing.
Iraq has ambitious plans to develop its energy resources. In 2009 it signed eleven contracts to develop its oil industry. This year it wants to auction three gas fields. If successful, the new deals would not only bring in more money, but also provide fuel for the country’s electricity generators. Like petroleum, the major impediment is infrastructure. If Akkas, Mansuriya or Siba were successfully auctioned off, the corporations may not be able to do anything with the majority of gas produced for years until pipes, reservoirs, roads, etc. were built. There’s also the issue of who would have to pay for all that. That may mean new exploitation of Iraq’s gas reserves will have to wait.
SOURCE
Agence France Presse, “Iraq delays gas bid round until October,” 8/2/10
Hafidh, Hassan, “2nd UPDATE: Iraq Delays Gas Bidding Round Until Oct 1-Source,” Dow Jones, 8/1/10
- “Iraq Needs Gas Infrastructure Investment Before Bid Round – Executives,” Dow Jones, 8/2/10
Yackley, Ayla Jean, “Iraq delays gas bidding round to Oct 1,” Reuters, 8/1/10
2 comments:
That 112 tcf number is "proven" reserves Joel. Iraq likely has 10X that amount to exploit. Proven reserves in the US are 237 tcf, but estimated reserves are slightly more than 2000 tcf. The US has about 100 yrs. worth of reserves at today's rate of consumption. Iraq might have 10,000 years worth, even if all their electricity was produced with NG.
I don't think Iraq has a snowball's chance in hell of exporting NG in our lifetime. Russia, Qatar, and Iran have massive proven reserves, and have infrastructure in place to export it. Iran has a NG pipeline to Turkey, and is in talks to build another. Iraq, on the other hand, doesn't want to invest a nickle in the sector. The government just wants to collect fees on "contracts". What moron is going to pay for the right to develop a field, when he can't get the product to market?
Sad but true Maury. Iraq could really use the gas as well for it's power plants, many of which are running off if oil instead which degrades them faster, but the lack of infrastructure means they just can't do mug with it but burn it off.
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