OREANDA-NEWS. In February 2014, Gazprom Neft successfully completed testing on its second well at the Badra field, operated by the Company. Three tests on the well delivered average daily flow rate of 10,000 barrels of oil, in line with forecasts.

Completed testing on two wells (test launch of the first well was concluded in December 2013) will enable the Company to begin commercial oil production at the Badra field over the next few months. Drilling work is continuing on a third well and drilling rigs are being mobilised to drill six additional wells as part of the contract signed in 2013 with Chinese company ZPEC.

Laying and testing of the oil pipeline from Gharraf oilfield, connecting it to the main Iraqi pipeline system, was completed in February. Construction of the first phase of the central gathering station (CGS), with 60,000 barrel per year oil capacity, is almost completed. Works has also started on establishing a gas processing facility with a capacity of 1.5 billion cubic metres per year.