ShaMaran halts output at two Duhok oil fields over security fears

DUHOK — ShaMaran Petroleum said Monday it had temporarily suspended production and pipeline exports at the Atrush and Sarsang oil fields in Duhok governorate, citing a deterioration in the regional security environment amid rising U.S.-Iran tensions.

The company said it took the decision with its joint venture partners to protect staff and assets, and would restart production once it judged conditions safe. ShaMaran, focused on the Kurdistan Region, indirectly holds a 50% working interest in the Atrush Block and 18% in the Sarsang Block.

The shutdown follows similar precautionary halts by other international operators. The same day, Gulf Keystone Petroleum said it had temporarily halted production at its Shaikan field, and last week the operator of the Khor Mor gas field also stopped output, citing “credible security threats.” Dana Gas said it had shut down primary facilities there and was coordinating with the Kurdistan Regional Government and Baghdad, while the Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Electricity said gas deliveries to power plants had fallen over the disruption, which it called temporary.

Drone and missile strikes have hit oil and gas infrastructure during the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, prompting operators to halt or scale back operations. The Khor Mor shutdown came hours after air defenses intercepted several drones over Erbil governorate on Wednesday night, with falling debris causing material damage but no casualties. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi condemned that attack and directed federal security agencies to work with Kurdistan Region forces to prevent further strikes.

Community Peacemaker Teams – Iraqi Kurdistan, which monitors security incidents in the region, documented 751 attacks across the Kurdistan Region between late February and late May, attributing them to Iran and Iran-backed Iraqi armed groups.