Profile of Halfaya |
How to get there ...?
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Location of Halfaya Field
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Halfaya Base camp
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Google maps
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About Halfaya Field |
Slide show |
Country: Iraq
Operator: Iraq Ministry of Oil Production: Current production of oil 100,000 barrels per day (~5.0×106 t/a) Estimated oil in place 4,100 million barrels (~5.6×108 t) Halfaya Field is an oil field, located east of Amarah, Iraq. Halfaya is proven to hold 4.1 billion barrels (650,000,000 m3) of recoverable reserve and has production potential of 200,000–535,000 barrels per day (31,800–85,100 m3/d), the China National Petroleum Corporation-led group finished the first phase in June 2012 and increased production from 3,000 barrels per day (480 m3/d) to 100,000 barrels per day (16,000 m3/d) 15 months ahead of schedule. CNPC has started preliminary work on the second phase of Halfaya, which will bring the capacity to 200,000 bpd. In December 2009, the China National Petroleum Corporation was awarded a 50% stake in the development of the field and France's Total S.A. along with Malaysia's Petronas were awarded a 25% stake. The consortium plans production at 535,000 barrels per day (85,100 m3/d). (Source: Wikipedia) |
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My experience
Only the brave venture out to this war torn country in a post war developmental phase, a country where one can get kidnapped for ransom money just because you look American. I was approached by Haward Technologies Middle East to set up an ELT program for their client, PetroChina at Halfaya in Maysan Province, as foundation to the training of 150 Iraqi engineering graduates, it was going to employ. Of all the countries I have been to in the past this one was the most security oriented.
Upon my arrival in Basrah, we were flown directly to the oilfield in a PetroChina charter flight, where I would remain for the entire 6 weeks. We were not allowed to leave base camp, which had intense security measures in place to keep the outside world out and us in the camp. I would not see anything of Iraq, except the airport and the base camp itself. Our students were brought in from Amarah by bus to the training centre every day. With the challenges of not being able to mingle with the local population or explore the area, like I have been able to do in other countries in the past, as well as a 7 day work week, it was probably the most challenging work and living situation I've ever been in. The whole camp is designed toward ultimate production and turning out profit. The work areas are modern and comfortable, whereas the accommodation are much less so. We lived in container type buildings, almost temporary buildings, with lack of ventilation, mold problems and less comfortable furniture. The subliminal message was be at work and put all your time and efforts in at work, because the accommodation surely did not inspire one to be there....it was merely a private space to rest your head. |
Most residents spent hours at the gym or at the sport centre to escape their rooms. Meals were served at one of 2 restaurants, 3 times a day. Breakfast was between 6 and 7 am, lunch between 12 and 1 pm, and dinner between 6 and 7 pm. Always at the same time. If you overslept breakfast, there was no other way to eat. The choice was between Arabic and Chinese cuisine. In the beginning I accompanied my Egyptian colleagues to the Arabic restaurant on the bottom floor, but after serious bouts of diarrhoea and indigestion, I preferred to eat at the Chinese restaurant with less spicy food.
It was winter time and it got dark at around 5 pm. I worked mostly at the Training centre until 6 pm and thus saw very little light, unless I made an effort to explore the camp with some colleagues on the off chance an opportunity for free time arose. Transportation in the camp consisted out of bicycles, electric bikes, electric golf cart mini buses and fuel driven cars. Cars mainly used to take engineers to operational areas outside of base camp. Most residents had their own bicycles, and we used these to move between the Training centre, the dining room and our bedrooms. Sometimes we explored the camp or went to the lake just outside the accommodation camp to look at sunsets....There also was, within the walls, around the accommodation section of the camp, a 2.5 km tartan track, frequented by walkers who just wanted some exercise or fresh air. Although, with all the flooding, we had plagues of mosquitoes and flies everywhere outside, so you had to walk with your mouth closed. It was a fast paced, hectic experience with little rest, but I learned a lot managing the ELT program and had the unique experience of living on an oilfield base camp. |