Atrush Field is a Jurassic fractured carbonate oilfield near Dohuk, Iraqi Kurdistan. It was discovered by the Consortium of General Exploration Partners. As of March 12, 2013 the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has exercised its option to acquire a 25% Government Interest of the Atrush Field according to the PSC contract.
General Exploration Partners (GEP) held 80% of Atrush and was in cooperation with Aspect Energy International, who owned 2/3 of GEP, thus Aspect Energy International had a share of 53,2%. Aspect Energy International sold its interest in GEP to TAQA for $600 mln, which basically transferred Aspect's interest in GEP to TAQA. Shamaran's interest remained at 26,8% of Atrush, and the remaining 20% is held by Marathon Oil.
In June, 2018 Shamaran Petroleum announced that it intends to purchase Marathon Petroleum's 15% share of the Atrush Block., with effect from Jan 1, 2018. ShaMaran will acquire all shares of MOKDV - Marathon's Dutch subsidiary for US$63m. ShaMaran will then sell 7.5% working interest to Taqa for US$33m. The sale is expected to close in the first quarter of 2019.
Oil began flowing through the Atrush Central Production Facility on July 3, 2017. In September 2017, an agreement for the sale of Atrush oil was signed between TAQA, its partners and the KRG. Under the agreement, the KRG will buy oil exported from the Atrush field by pipeline at the Atrush block boundary. The quality of the oil will force a price adjustment of approximately $16/bbl lower than the dated Brent oil price. All local and international transportation costs will be an additional fee. This discount is based on the principles similar to other oil sales agreements in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Atrush Field Naming Conventions
In 2014 after a meeting of the Atrush Management Committee and the KRG Ministry of Natural Resources changes in terminology used with respect to activity in the Atrush Field were made: “Atrush Block”, “Atrush PSC” & “Atrush Field” were unchanged. The structure (previously referred to as the “Atrush structure”) is renamed after the Chiya Khere mountain, i.e. the Chiya Khere structure. All production facilities will be known as the Chiya Khere facilities. Future wells will remain sequential but will be referred to as “Chiya Khere”, short-form “CK”, commencing with well #5. Well pads will be known as Chamanke A, B, etc. Historic wells, AT-1 through AT-4, will retain their original nomenclature.
Wells
Atrush-1 (AT-1) Well
Atrush-1 (AT-1) well was successfully spudded on October 5, 2010. The well had a natural flow of 6,393 barrels of oil per day. General Exploration Partners discovered 726 meters of oil column and 120 meter netpay. The well has since been permanently abandoned
Atrush-2 (AT-2) Well
Atrush-2 (AT-2) well was successfully spudded on May 23, 2012. The well had a flow of 42212 barrels of oil per day using a Submersible pump, estimated to have been the highest flow ever in Iraqi Kurdistan. The design of the DST Program, as well as the permanent completion, was managed by Daniel Riedel, Richard Sharpe, Damon Yarshenko, and Wes Whitman with key execution support provided by core contractors. AT-2 was completed for production in Q3 of 2016.
Atrush-3 (AT-3) Well
Atrush-3 (AT-3) well was believed the well spudded on the 26th of March 2013 but there is no information confirming this for now.
AT-3 Well Summary
In December 2018 the well was worked over as a heavy oil production well and is now ready for the heavy oil extended well test.
Atrush-4 (AT-4) Well
Drilled in 2014, Atrush-4 (AT-4) well is the second well to be drilled in support of the Phase One Facility.
AT-4 Well Summary
High-angle deviated well. 82° was the maximum hole angle. This demonstrated that the field could be developed, using directional wells in the face of extremely rugged terrain. The well was drilled from the AT-1 pad, which is correctly known as Chamanke-A. The Jurassic reservoir is approximately 72m higher than when it was encountered in AT-1. Two limited well tests were performed for fluid samples. The combined rate of fluid production was over of oil per day of 26°API oil. There wasn't an indication of a gas cap. An interference test was also conducted. The test demonstrated instantaneous pressure communication with AT-2. AT-4 was suspended as Phase One Facility producer. AT-4 was completed for production in Q3 of 2016. Clean-up attempts were made during 2018, but resulted in disappointing productivity the well is now awaiting work-over for a smaller pump.
Chiya Khere-5 (CK-5) Well
Chiya Khere-5 (CK-5) well was completed in Q3 of 2015.