GOSP Gas/Oil Separation Plants draw-off gasses and wash oil with water in first step of processing.

Oil production in the south—one measure of progress—was back up to 2.045 million bbl per day on May 4, after dipping to 1.869 million bbl per day in the wake of recent violence and sabotage across the country. But oil production is only part of the picture. The oil fields need associated facilities to improve efficiency and protect resources for long-term management. So far, that progress is mixed.

In interviews at offices near Basra, officials at Iraq’s South Gas Co. and the South Refineries Co. blamed “disorganized” work by KBR for slowing reconstruction and restoration of liquid petroleum gas and refinery output. “We have major problems with KBR,” says Abdul Kareem Jassem, general director of SGC. “We have been unable to meet our pre-war production levels because of them.”

In a statement, KBR says it has aggressively proceeded with work on all Restore Iraqi Oil projects funded by the Corps. But it notes that in the transition from the RIO I to the RIO II follow-on contract, some projects have been put on hold while the Coalition Provision Authority and Iraq’s Oil Ministry reevaluate priorities and reallocate funds. “It’s important to note that we do not establish these priorities,” the company stated. “KBR only responds to directives from the Corps of Engineers as communicated to them by Iraq’s Oil Ministry.”

Under Task Force RIO II, KBR won a $1.2-billion contract in January to continue oil restoration in southern Iraq.

The greatest progress appears to be at Qarmat Ali Water Plant on the Basra River, near Basra. After extensive repairs the plant is running at 75% capacity, treating 52,000 gallons per minute, mainly for oil production. Water is filtered and treated with sodium hypochlorite, aluminum sulphate polyacromate and Flo-guard, a corrosion inhibitor, to ensure long life of the reserves, pipelines, pumps and other equipment, says Steven Wright, a Corps spokesman. The plant is expected to hit full yield in late May, when operations will pass to South Oil Co.

CRITICAL SGC General Director Jassem complains not enough attention is being paid to reconstruction in his sector.

Even so, SOC Director General Jabar Al-Lueibi is frustrated with the pace of repair. The Corps, KBR and the Iraqi oil ministry identified the plant as a key infrastructure node last July, but post-war looting and “the need for complicated spare parts,” delayed repairs, Al-Lueibi says.

The water plays a critical role in maintaining the oil reserves. Qarmat Ali’s water travels a 120 km-long network of delivery lines, 1200 mm dia. at the source and reducing to 500 mm dia. feeders at the ultimate delivery points at Gas/Oil Separation Plants and the injection pump stations.

Some of the water is injected at 2,100 psi to 2,500 psi to maintain pressure on the reserve and force oil to migrate through pores to wells. Other water is used by...

(Photos by Glen C. Carey)