DNO resumes output in Kurdistan after July drone strikes, reaches 55,000 boepd

NEWSROOM — Norwegian oil and gas company DNO ASA has resumed production in the Kurdistan Region following drone attacks in July, reporting output of 55,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, according to its second-quarter earnings released Thursday.

Production is roughly evenly split between the Tawke and Peshkabir fields in Duhok’s Zakho Autonomous Administration, though the company said long-term repairs are still needed and security concerns persist after explosive drones struck surface equipment at Peshkabir and an oil storage tank at Tawke. No injuries were reported.

Nearly 20 drone-related incidents were recorded across the Kurdistan Region in July.

DNO said second-quarter Kurdistan production averaged 56,100 boepd. It plans to restart drilling to restore output to pre–Iraq-Turkey pipeline shutdown levels of 100,000 boepd, with current revenues secured through local sales.

Earlier this month, Kurdistan Regional Government Interior Minister Rebar Ahmed said Erbil has detailed knowledge of who is behind the wave of drone attacks but is waiting for the results of a joint investigation with Baghdad before releasing findings. A joint technical committee is examining the drones used and identifying armed groups in Iraq suspected of carrying out the strikes.

“The groups and parties behind these attacks must be punished,” Ahmed said.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.