Introduction
For those of you with some experience of working in Iraq, you should be pretty much aware of how the oil price affected the country, and consequentially the investment and work of the IOCs operating in South Iraq.
Well, finally after months of uncertainty and a kind of blurry business environment, we see some signs that proper investment is happening again. We can see the targeting of production increase in one of the largest Oilfields in the world.
Working in Iraq as a contractor
I spent four years of my life working for one of the most significant projects in the south that in 2012 looked just so impressive for its time. It offered to everybody, the Iraq Government and the county as a whole a brighter future ensuring sufficient investment and oil production to rebuild the country’s infrastructure. For us, contractors and employees, it was just like being in the right place at the right time.
Working in Iraq as a contractor was a rich experience. One of the best things for me was the cultural variety and all those nationalities looking for a common way of working. At the same time, building amazing things and helping younger Iraqis to be prepared to be protagonists in a not too far away future.
Then in late 2013 and late 2014, that sense of the project of the future started to change. Sentiment moved towards a more deprived environment with cost-cutting measures regularly happening and being more severe every time.
Looking at projects being shut down and colleagues being let go was not easy. When I saw myself affected and sent home for the first time in my career, I didn’t know what to do. I only felt like this for just a little while, because later I realized that life was still with me and with life itself, so many things to do.
Now, I am happy to see that some of that greatness is reappearing. This is going to be very good for the country of Iraq. A country and people that I have very close to my heart. Good Luck Iraq you deserve great things!
Cheers
L. Diaz
I’ve worked with Lenin recently on the BP project in the Rumaila field of Southern Iraq where we worked together as team looking after High Angle Wells and shallow water injector wells campaigns .
It was always a pleasure to come into work when Lenin in country. He spent every hitch improving and optimizing and this was always evident in any cementing operations.
His background and practical but professional approach make him an excellent manager & technical adviser .
He is calm, focused, patient and trusted by all those around him. also an extremely dedicated and diligent person who will accept nothing less than personal and professional progress. His enthusiasm is contagious and he easily motivates other members of the team.
Thanks for your nice words Ibrahim, It was certainly my pleasure to be part of your team.
Cheers
L. Diaz
Good luck to you L. Diaz, I wish you a Brighter future. What do you think how much drilling activity will increasein latter part of this year? And are we going to see Oil boom again in Iraq?What about North Iraq (Kurdistan), here everything is stand still even though security situation has improved alot.I hope everything starts picking its pace and some new job opportunities arrives soon.
M Raza
Dear Mubashir, I believe this year the increase in activity will be slow but constant, which is very good. You see, when investment becomes available (e.g., better oil price, agreements, etc) is very good but, it takes a while for the whole “system” or Existing Infrastructure and capacity to respond and be able to expand in time. This is normal, but in addition following this downturn companies became very afraid of revamping activity suddenly … You see, big CEOs are unable to forecast what to do and risk. You can imagine a captain on a leaky boat, who is expending all his time fixing and reducing the leaks, and forgot what it means and how important it is to look ahead and plan a route to shore.
I think Iraq will see an Oil boom again in next few years, maybe in the second half of 2017 and all Iraq fields will be targeted, North and South. By that time, with less “good” people around and so much to do .. companies will be reacting like crazy to be able to respond …. By that time, some boats would have already sunk and whoever survived will be desperate by whatever means left to reach the shore.
In-Sh-allah
Hey Evgeny, I am also wishing things go back to the way they were or at least to see improvement soon. I know sooner than later it will. Let’s be positive.
Thanks for visitin my website, Cheers
L. Diaz