Modernizing one of the world’s great oilfields
Rumaila is part of the Basra Oil Company (previously known as South Oil Company) family of oilfields. It is one of the largest oilfields in the world and is the largest producing field in Iraq, producing around a third of the country’s oil.
Oil has been produced at Rumaila for well over 60 years. A Technical Service Contract was signed in 2009 between BOC and bp, PetroChina and the State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) to establish the Rumaila Operating Organisation (ROO) to transform the oilfield into a sustainable world-class oilfield for Iraq and its people.
Investing in Iraq’s future
Rumaila’s production achievements are driven by the introduction of world-class technologies, the investment made in renewing facilities, as well as vital training for staff. The scale of progress over 10 years can be seen through the changes made to the field: newly built roads, 14 degassing stations and five cluster pump stations renovated, alongside large scale environmental cleaning. More than 380 new wells have been drilled while the number of producing wells has increased 50%. All subsurface activity is now guided by cutting-edge geological modelling technology.
ROO has increased production by almost 40% to an average 1.47 million barrels per day of oil – the field’s highest rate in 30 years.
An Iraqi operation
Around 6,800 Iraqis work at Rumaila, aided by a few hundred industry experts from bp, PetroChina and other international companies. A further 22,000 local people are employed via contractors who support Rumaila’s activities through a large supply chain. There is no mistaking that this is an Iraqi operation. People are key to our success and we are building the skills and capabilities through-on-the job mentoring and training to develop the next generation of Iraqi leaders.
A culture of respect
We are developing a culture built on respect and acting responsibly in everything we do – be that in our corporate governance or in the way we live side-by-side the people living in communities close to the field.
