Natural gas output at Khor Mor field hits record high: Dana Gas

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region   Natural gas production from Kurdistan Region’s Khor Mor field has reached a record high and UAE-based Dana Gas has restarted plans to expand production, which is expected to give a needed jolt to the Kurdistan Region’s electricity grid. 

Natural gas production “reached a new record level of 430 MMscf/d [million standard cubic feet per day] on 15 December 2020,” Dana Gas announced in a press release on Sunday. Average gas production for the fourth quarter has increased by eight percent over the year before.  

Expansion plans, which were suspended in March 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic, have resumed with the expectation of producing an additional 250 MMscf/d by early 2023.

“2020 has been very challenging due to the restrictions imposed by the global pandemic but the team has worked tirelessly to keep our operations ongoing throughout the year, adhering to strict health and safety protocol to ensure the continuous flow of gas to power the KRI’s [Kurdistan Region of Iraq] electricity needs,” said Patrick Allman-Ward, Dana Gas CEO. 

Most of the Kurdistan Region’s electricity is generated from natural gas and shortages that can leave natural gas-powered facilities operating at sometimes just half capacity are one of the reasons why the national electricity grid supply cannot meet demand