Norway-based oil and gas operator DNO announced on Thursday that it is ramping up activity in Iraqi Kurdistan as cumulative production from the Tawke oil field approaches a major milestone of 500 million barrels. DNO holds a 75% operating stake in the field.
The company said drilling at its flagship Tawke license will resume next week, marking the end of a two-and-a-half-year hiatus. The renewed drilling campaign will begin with the development of a new production well targeting a shallow reservoir within the field.
DNO aims to increase gross operational production by 25%, lifting output to approximately 100,000 barrels of oil per day. The Tawke license encompasses both the Tawke and Peshkabir oil fields, which rank among the largest producing assets in the Kurdistan region and are operated by DNO.
Executive Chairman Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani noted that despite the suspension of drilling in 2023 following the shutdown of the Iraq–Turkey pipeline, DNO has continued producing around 80,000 barrels per day through low-cost well optimization and modification efforts.
“With nearly two decades of experience operating these complex reservoirs, we believe there is significant additional recovery potential within the Tawke license,” Mossavar-Rahmani said.
Beyond the Kurdistan region of Iraq, DNO maintains upstream operations in Norway, the United Kingdom, Ivory Coast, and Yemen, supporting a geographically diversified production portfolio.