Abdul Hussein Al-Shibli, adviser to the Governor of Najaf, expects the Al-Qurnain oilfield to enter the initial production phase in early 2027, in cooperation with China’s ZhenHua Oil, as drilling and assessment activities continue to determine the field’s actual reserves and production potential.
Al-Shibli said the first phase of the project includes drilling four wells, with the first well expected to begin production in January. He explained that the initial output would be exploratory and experimental, aimed at collecting accurate data on the field’s oil reserves rather than generating commercial or export-oriented production.
He added that the results of the four wells would determine the next stages of development, including connecting the field to oil pipelines supplying export facilities or local refineries.
The first exploratory well reportedly recorded initial production of approximately 3,240 barrels per day. Al-Shibli said a clearer assessment of the field’s reserves and production capacity is expected after June, following the completion of drilling and evaluation operations.
He noted that confirming the preliminary reserve estimates could strengthen Najaf’s position on Iraq’s oil production map, potentially placing the governorate among the country’s leading oil producers, depending on the final results of the project.
China’s ZhenHua Oil is developing the Al-Qurnain field in cooperation with the Midland Oil Company. The Ministry of Oil announced the discovery in 2026. Preliminary estimates suggest that the field covers approximately 8,770 square kilometres and holds more than 8 billion barrels of potential light crude oil reserves, along with indications of associated gas.
The project is part of Iraq’s strategy to increase crude oil production capacity to 10 million barrels per day by 2030, up from approximately 4.8 million barrels per day.
