Iraq has wrapped up both 2D and 3D seismic surveys at the Naft Khana oil field in Diyala province, located in the country’s northeast. This marks a key step toward initiating exploratory drilling under Iraq’s fifth licensing round, according to a senior official from the Ministry of Oil.
Basim Mohammed Khudair, Iraq’s Deputy Oil Minister for Extraction Affairs, referred to Naft Khana as a “promising location for future oil and gas development.” He noted that Iraqi technical teams carried out the survey work on behalf of Chinese energy company Geo-Jade. With the survey phase now complete, the project is entering the drilling stage, alongside efforts to draft a comprehensive development plan to help increase Iraq’s energy production.
“Our goal is to make every Iraqi province a contributor to national oil output,” Khudair said during a press briefing. “This aligns with a broader energy policy that includes ending gas flaring and expanding exploration of existing oil blocks.”
He also mentioned that Iraq is in the final stages of securing agreements to launch a floating gas terminal, which would offer greater flexibility in the country’s natural gas imports. “If Iranian gas supplies drop, we are ready to meet the shortfall by tapping new fields or importing through the upcoming terminal,” he added.