Oil Majors Cut Back Iraq Personnel as Mideast Tensions Rise

(Bloomberg) – BP PLC, Totalenenergies SE and ENI SPA reduced staff in the oil fields in Iraq as a measure as the tensions in the region increased.

According to the statement of the state’s oil and gas operator Basrah Oil Co., the temporary movement of the three European oil major did not affect production. Companies are working on some of Iraq’s largest production assets.

Personnel disadvantage emphasizes how quickly regional instability can affect global energy supply chains, even if direct threats to production are not close. According to data compiled by Bloomberg, Iraq, the second largest manufacturer of OPEC after Saudi Arabia, was pumping about 4.1 million barrels of oil a day since May.

“As a precautionary measure, BP has decided to move some personnel from Iraq,” a spokesman for a company spokesman. He said. In the early hours of Monday, Eni said that Iraq has reduced staff in Zubair Oil Field as a meal precautionary measure ”.

He refused to make a total comment.

BP manages the giant Rooila Field, one of the largest in the world, in partnership with Iraq and Petrochina Co. Gardening, Iraqi personnel, Basrah Oil Co.

Basrah Oil Co. said that Chinese companies that manage the areas in Southern Iraq have not evacuated the personnel and said, “The work continues without any problems”. Russian company Lukoil’s personnel levels in Iraq have not changed.

-Help from Alberto Brambill and Francois de Beauupuy.

(Updates with BP interpretation in the fourth paragraph.)

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