Taqa seeks green light on Kurdish oil production
Although the amount would be a fraction of the capacity of more developed fields in the Kurdish area such as Taq Taq and Tawke, plans for extra output add urgency to the semi-autonomous region's case for exporting oil without the involvement of the Iraqi federal government.
Taqa is discussing its development plan for the Atrush field with the government in Erbil in order to get the green light, Leo Koot, the company's managing director for Iraq, told the state news agency Wam.
Taqa's minority partners at Atrush are Marathon Oil of the United States and General Exploration Partners, a joint venture between Canada's ShaMaran Petroleum and the privately owned Aspect Energy.
Taqa bought its 53.2 per cent stake in Atrush in December from General Exploration Partners.
"The development plan is currently under review with final approval expected in the third quarter of 2013," Marathon said in a report last month.
"We anticipate first production in 2015."
