Oil field: Blasts partially halt output in south Iraq

BASRA: Production at Iraq’s biggest oil field was partially halted on Saturday after two bombs damaged a pipeline transporting crude, the head of state-owned South Oil Co said.

“Two explosions took place last night targeting the pipeline that transports crude oil from Rumaila South to Zubair,” SOC chief Dhia Jaafar said at a news conference in Basra. “Production has stopped on the southern side (of Rumaila). Technical staff are working non-stop now to solve the problem.”

Output at Rumaila South is between 600,000 and 650,000 barrels per day (bpd), Jaafar said. An SOC official, speaking on condition of anonymity, earlier said the blasts and ensuing fire, which has since been put out, did not affect exports.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 9^th, 2011.