An oil expert told Channel8 that Iraq has begun drilling new oil wells within territories covered by Article 140 of the Constitution.

After more than 45 years, the Iraqi Ministry of Oil has launched drilling operations for a new well in the Hamrin oil field, which experts say lies within the constitutional boundaries of the disputed areas.

First New Well Since 1978

Iraqi Minister of Oil Basim Mohammed announced that ministry teams have started drilling a new oil well inside the town of Amerli in Salah al-Din Governorate. He stated that this is the first well of its kind to be discovered and prepared for extraction in the northern governorates since 1978.

Location of the Well and Article 140

Sirwan Mustafa, an oil expert at the state-run North Oil Company, said the newly drilled well is located within the territories governed by Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution and falls inside the Hamrin oil field.

Mustafa explained that three key oil fields are located in this area:

• Ajeel
• Allas
• Hamrin

Although these fields are considered part of the lands of the Kurdistan Region, they currently contain around 80 oil wells.

Separation From North Oil Company Administration

According to the oil expert, the Iraqi central government has gradually removed these oil fields from the operational authority of the North Oil Company over recent years.

Instead, Baghdad established a new administrative entity called “Salah al-Din Governorate Fields,” despite the territories traditionally being classified as Kurdistan zones.

Current Production and Expansion Plans

The three fields currently produce approximately 40,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

The Iraqi Ministry of Oil plans to significantly increase production, with a target of reaching 100,000 barrels per day in the future.

Sirwan Mustafa also revealed that in some parts of these fields, drilling teams reached crude oil at a depth of only 580 meters.