Rumaila oil field
| Company type | Joint venture / Operator |
|---|---|
| Industry | Oil and gas |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Headquarters | Basra , Iraq |
Area served | Rumaila oil field, southern Iraq |
| Products | Crude oil, natural gas |
| Owner | Basra Oil Company (Iraq), BP, PetroChina, State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) |
| Website | rumaila |
The Rumaila oil field is a super-giant oil field situated in southern Iraq, approximately 50 kilometers southwest of Basra City. It was discovered in 1953 by the Basrah Petroleum Company (BPC), affiliated with the Iraq Petroleum Company (IPC). The field holds an estimated reserve of 17 billion barrels, which constitutes about 12% of Iraq's overall reserves totaling 143 billion barrels. Rumaila ranks as Iraq’s largest oilfield and is among the top three largest globally.
Following nationalization under Public Law No. 80 in 1961 during Abdul-Karim Qasim’s administration, control of Rumaila has remained with Iraq. Saddam Hussein further nationalized IPC’s holdings in 1972 and those of BPC in 1975. The contested borders of the field with Kuwait were a significant factor leading to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990.
Years of insufficient investment caused by Western sanctions resulted in reservoir depletion and aging infrastructure by the early 2000s, which negatively impacted production levels, environmental compliance, and operational safety. The nearby community of North Rumaila earned the nickname "the cemetery" due to elevated cancer incidences documented by local researchers.
Addressing environmental issues raised in a 2022 BBC investigation, the Rumaila Operating Organisation (ROO) has successfully cut gas flaring at its facilities by over 65% within seven years, including an additional 20% reduction achieved in 2022.
Ownership
Iraq’s Basra Oil Company (BOC) holds ownership of the field. Following bidding rounds during the 2000s, a Technical Service Contract was finalized in 2009 involving BOC, BP, PetroChina, and the State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO). This agreement led to the creation of Rumaila Operating Organization (ROO) as the operator, which introduced advanced technologies, upgraded infrastructure, enhanced staff training, modern equipment, and a comprehensive drilling and expansion initiative.
In June 2022, Basra Energy Company Ltd (BECL)—entirely owned by PetroChina and bp—assumed lead contractor responsibilities from bp under the existing Technical Service Contract. BECL was established to streamline investment efforts and facilitate better access to external funding. ROO continues as the operator. The contract, extended in 2014, remains valid through 2034.
Production
Since modernization efforts commenced in 2010, output has risen by 35%. In 2022, average production reached , representing roughly 30% of Iraq’s total oil production of . By 2019, approximately 550 wells were actively producing.
Production Facilities
Managed by Rumaila Operating Organisation, the infrastructure includes headquarters, a waste management center, supply base, and a training academy. The field comprises seven cluster pump stations alongside fourteen degassing stations—seven each for North and South Rumaila—that perform three-phase separation of oil, water, and natural gas. Crude oil is transported via pipelines to local refineries or exported through Basra ports. Natural gas supplies both the Basrah Gas Company and powers the Rumaila Power Plant that supports oilfield operations. Water is disposed of through injection wells.
Degassing stations:
- North Rumaila: DS1, DS2, DS3, DS4, DS5, NIDS, SIDS
- South Rumaila: Markazia (Rumaila), Janubia, Shamiya, Qurainat, Mishrif Shamiya, Mishrif Qurainat, Ratqa
Reserves
Rumaila is estimated to contain around 17 billion barrels of crude oil, accounting for approximately 12% of Iraq's overall reserves, which total 143.1 billion barrels. The oil deposits are situated roughly below ground level, enabling relatively straightforward extraction. Given the current production rate of , the reserves-to-production ratio stands at slightly less than 35 years.
Importance
Rumaila held significant strategic value during the 1990 Gulf War, when Iraq accused Kuwait of drilling laterally beneath its territory, prompting Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990. Before this conflict, Kuwait had drilled only eight vertical wells within its section of Rumaila, with production limited by technical challenges. Following Kuwait’s liberation in 1991, adjustments to the UN-defined border moved territory northward, revealing Iraqi oil output on land that became recognized as Kuwaiti.
In the 2003 Iraq invasion, Iraqi forces established an 18-kilometer defensive minefield across Rumaila containing approximately 100,000 mines and ignited parts of the oil field as a defensive measure. These fires were subsequently extinguished by Coalition troops, allowing oil extraction activities to recommence.
Cancer risk
Open gas flaring emits pollutants associated with cancer development. Although Iraqi legislation prohibits gas flaring within a 10-kilometer radius of residential areas, in 2022 flaring was observed as close as 350 meters from homes. A confidential report from the Iraqi Ministry of Health linked a 20% increase in cancer cases in Basra between 2015 and 2018 to air pollution; however, ministry personnel were restricted from publicly discussing these health concerns. Environment Minister Jassem al-Falahi acknowledged that pollution from oil operations significantly contributes to the rising incidence of cancer locally. Residents affected by this pollution have not received any form of compensation.
According to BP, the Rumaila Operating Organisation has reduced gas flaring at its sites by more than 65% since 2016.
Potential causes
Oil extraction produces associated gases such as methane and other hydrocarbons. Surplus petroleum gases are frequently flared, releasing harmful substances including carbon dioxide, methane, and black carbon into the atmosphere. The World Bank identifies Rumaila as one of the world’s largest flaring locations. Research connects unconventional oil and gas activities with increased air pollution and potential contamination of water resources, which may negatively affect early childhood development and elevate risks for leukemia and other cancers.
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), hazardous compounds detected in soil surrounding Rumaila, originate from oil production processes, refining, exploration activities, atmospheric pollution, and accidental spills. PAH concentrations in this area surpass international soil safety thresholds and pose significant public health threats by contaminating soil, groundwater supplies, and food chains—impacting both human populations and wildlife.
Reported incidents and impacts
Communities living near Rumaila often receive limited media attention due to the field's government ownership and the private handling of incident and health data. One Iraqi individual has initiated one of the earliest personal lawsuits against the Rumaila oil company over flaring practices, claiming his son developed cancer caused by exposure to toxic substances released during flaring, which ultimately led to his death. There are unconfirmed reports suggesting four to five additional fatalities linked to pollution from operations at the oil field. A leaked report from Iraq’s Health Ministry revealed that cancer incidence rates in the region were three times higher than officially reported figures.