West Qurna 2 Resumes Full Oil Production After Brief Maintenance Halt

West Qurna 2 has resumed operations after a brief halt lasting several hours due to scheduled maintenance, according to Ali Nizar Al-Shatari, Director General of Iraq’s State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO).

Al-Shatari said the production stoppage at West Qurna 2 was temporary and purely technical, confirming that output has returned to normal without any lasting impact on Iraq’s oil exports.

Reason Behind the Shutdown

Earlier media reports indicated that production at the field had been fully suspended following a leak in an export pipeline.

Iraqi authorities, however, confirmed that the issue was swiftly contained and maintenance work was completed efficiently.

The development comes amid ongoing repercussions from US sanctions imposed on Russia’s Lukoil, which holds a 75% stake in the field and had previously declared force majeure on its shipments.

Strategic Importance of the Field

West Qurna 2 produces approximately 460,000 barrels per day, accounting for about 9% of Iraq’s total oil output and nearly 0.5% of global supply, underscoring its vital role in global energy markets.

Iraq’s Ministry of Oil has stressed that production from fields previously operated by Lukoil will remain stable, with Basra Oil Company implementing measures to maintain output levels.

Future Management Plans

Baghdad is currently evaluating the sale of Lukoil’s stake to a US company, while global energy majors such as Exxon Mobil and Chevron are reportedly in talks to assume management of Iraqi oil fields as part of a broader long-term strategy.