Azerbaijan, Baku, May 21 / Trend A.Taghiyeva /
Iraqi Oil Ministry is finalising preparation for the fourth licensing round for the exploration of hydrocarbons, the Iraqi Oil Ministry spokesman Asym Jihad told Trend on Monday.
He said a feature of this tender is that the fields, on which it was declared, have not previously been explored and the winning companies will work in three stages, i.e., exploration, development and production of hydrocarbons.
Jihad also said that the tender will be held on May 30 and 31 of this year with the participation of 47 international companies from various countries around the world.
"As part of the tender, 12 exploration areas will be represented, both oil and gas, in various provinces of the country," Jihad said.
Eight of the block are gas fields, four - oil.
Gas fields are as follows: the first area of exploration is located in the province of Nineveh, includes an exploration area of 2.7 square kilometres. The second area is located in Anbar province, with an area of 2.8 square kilometres, the third exploration area - in Anbar province area with an area of 2.7 square kilometres, the fourth area - on the border between provinces of Anbar and Nineveh with an area of 2.7 square kilometres. The fifth area is also located in Anbar province and has an area of 2.8 square kilometres.
The sixth area is located on the border between provinces of Najaf and Anbar, with an area of 2.9 square kilometres. The seventh area is located in the provinces of Qadisiyyah, Najaf, Babil and Muthanna. It has an area of 2.6 square kilometres. The eighth area is located in the provinces of Diyala and Wasit, and has an area of 2.6 square kilometres.
Jihad said the oil fields include the following areas: the first oil block is located in the province of Basra, with an area of 1.9 square kilometres. The second area is located in the provinces of Muthanna and Dhi Qar, and has an area of 1.5 square kilometres. The third oil block is located in the provinces of Najaf and Muthanna with area of 2.8 square kilometres. The fourth block also has an area of 2.8 square kilometres and is located in the provinces of Najaf and Muthanna.
According to BP, Iraq's proven oil reserves as of early 2011 amounted to 115 billion barrels. The country ranks third in OPEC after Saudi Arabia and Iran.
The major oil fields of Iraq are Rumaila, Zubair, Nahr Umr, Majnoon and West Qurna in the south of the country. About 80 per cent of oil extracted in Iraq, is exported.
According to BP, the proven gas reserves in Iraq at the beginning of 2011 amounted to 3.17 trillion cubic meters.