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In line with its ambitions, Gulf Keystone, a leading independent operator and producer in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, has managed to record a gross average production of around 41,400 bopd in 2025

The company's approach involved transitioning from trucking sales to pipeline exports via the Iraq-Türkiye Pipeline so that volumes can be quickly ramped up to attain full well capacity. 

Well workover is currently underway to bring back two wells online, which in turn, will result in increased production rates by early 2026. A three-week shutdown is also in plans next year to ensure safety upgrades at PF-2, with equipment tie-ins to be conducted as well. Engineering design work is on track for the installation of PF-2 water handling in 2027. 

Jon Harris, Gulf Keystone’s chief executive officer, said, "2025 has been a milestone year for the Company after pipeline exports from the Shaikan Field were successfully restarted in September following a hiatus of over two and a half years. Liftings allocated to Gulf Keystone and other IOCs commenced in November and we are pleased to have recently received our first payment. The process as outlined in the interim exports agreements is working and we look forward to a return to full PSC entitlement at international prices following the international independent consultant’s review.

"We are on track to meet our production, capital and cost guidance for 2025. Strong operational and financial performance in the year has enabled us to safely advance key projects while distributing US$50mn of dividends to shareholders. Cumulative production from the Shaikan Field recently surpassed 150 million barrels, underlining the scale and quality of the asset. Looking ahead to 2026, we are expecting a base work programme focused on the progression of current projects. We are also embedding optionality to restart drilling and review disciplined field development, contingent on consistent exports payments at international prices. We are excited about a potentially transformational year for the company and remain focused on executing for our shareholders."

ADNOC, in partnership with Eni S.p.A. and PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP), has announced the successful signing of a landmark structured financing transaction of up to US$11bn(AED 40.4bn) for its offshore Hail and Ghasha gas development

Hail and Ghasha is part of the Ghasha Concession, located offshore Abu Dhabi, which is expected to produce 1.8bn standard cubic feet per day (bscfd) of gas. As such, project will play a vital role in meeting ADNOC’s goal of gas self-sufficiency and the rising demand for exports. It is also the world’s first offshore gas project of its kind that aims to operate with net zero emissions, capturing 1.5 million tonnes per year (mtpa) of carbon dioxide (CO2).

In addition to providing immediate access to capital, the financing structure introduces an innovative commercial model that ring-fences midstream processing facilities and operations, which enables ADNOC and its partners to raise low-cost funding while retaining strategic and operational control of the assets.

This is the latest in a series of landmark midstream and infrastructure transactions, including a US$4.9bn (AED18bn) oil pipeline partnership, and a US$10.1bn (AED 37.1 bn) gas pipeline agreement, with some of the world’s leading global infrastructure and institutional investors.

His Excellency Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC managing director and Group CEO, said, “This landmark transaction builds on ADNOC’s successful track record of global energy partnerships and unlocks capital to drive progress at Hail and Ghasha, one of the world’s most ambitious offshore gas projects. The exceptional demand from over 20 leading global and regional financial institutions reinforces confidence in ADNOC’s value creation strategy, innovative approach to financing, and expertise in delivering mega projects. Hail and Ghasha is an important contributor to ADNOC’s gas strategy and is on track to generate significant value for ADNOC, our partners, and the UAE, while unlocking important new gas resources for our customers.”

Aramco, Honeywell and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) are collaborating to scale up the development of Crude-to-Chemicals (CTC) technology in a bid to maximise the value of crude oil and reduce costs associated with CTC conversion 

The new CTC pathway will entail converting crude oil directly into light olefins and other high-demand chemicals, resulting in improved fuel efficiency, carbon utilisation, and process economics—allowing for more efficient and cost-effective production at scale.

The collaboration aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 by helping to advance economic diversification, build national research and technology capabilities, and strengthen the Kingdom’s position in the global chemicals market, combining academia and industry expertise to accelerate technology development and national capabilities.

Dr. Ali A. Al-Meshari, Aramco senior vice president of technology oversight & coordination, said, “This collaboration with Honeywell UOP and KAUST furthers Aramco's efforts to drive innovation and shape the future of petrochemicals. By harnessing the power of cutting-edge technologies, we aim to enhance energy efficiency and unlock increased value from every barrel of crude. This novel Crude-to-Chemicals process is aligned with our vision of supporting the global transition towards cleaner, high-performance chemical production. Moreover, this initiative demonstrates our focus on contributing to the growth of a vibrant ecosystem, where the deployment of innovative technologies can create lasting value for our stakeholders, our communities, and the environment.”

Rajesh Gattupalli, Honeywell UOP president, added, “This agreement marks a defining moment in our strategic collaboration with Aramco and KAUST – and in the global evolution of Crude-to-Chemicals technology. With Honeywell UOP’s deep expertise in catalytic process design and commercial scale-up, we’re well positioned to drive this innovation forward.”

GPT Industries’ Iso-Smart remote pipeline monitoring device has attracted a high level of interest from operators in the Middle East since it was introduced to the region around a year ago

Iso-Smart is an all-in-one solution for checking Cathodic Protection (on and instant off potentials), Isolation, Bond currents, AC vs. DC on the line, and more from remote locations. The device can be mounted at any current test station along a pipeline, and incorporates True RMS technology to provide reliable real-time data, helping pipeline owners make informed decisions, address any issues or anomalies before they become critical and comply with pipeline integrity regulations. Combining GPT Industries’ decades of corrosion prevention expertise with the latest remote monitoring technology, it sets a new standard for a versatile, user-friendly remote asset integrity monitoring.

Iso-Smart communicates readings instantly to a secure dashboard, giving operators real-time visibility into asset performance. The platform also supports customisable alerts, automated reporting, and over-the-air firmware updates.

Speaking to Oil Review Middle East at ADIPEC, Michael Monica, director global sales, marketing and customer care at GPT Industries says that the company has successfully piloted Iso-Smart with end users in the region. The pilot is now validated and approved, the next step being to reach out to more end-users.

“The biggest differentiator with this device is that it is able to determine AC density on pipelines, something that is unique to Iso-Smart,” Monica points out. Pipelines exposed to alternating current (AC) from nearby power lines or railways face serious risks, including accelerated corrosion, compromised cathodic protection and safety hazards.

“Iso-Smart can distinguish direct current from alternating current, which is something operators need to be able to determine, and ensures your CP system is at the right level to protect the asset. The big advantage is that it allows you to remotely monitor the asset in real time from a dashboard, eliminating the need to take physical readings at the site. You can tell it you want it to measure, and how often.”

Monica emphasises the importance of Iso-Smart for compliance, noting its real-time monitoring capabilities and the ease of generating reports.

The latest version of Iso-Smart, launched a few months ago, incorporates significant new enhancements, based on end-user feedback, notably a more compact housing designed to fit seamlessly within standard three-inch test stations, making installation simpler, faster, and more practical for new and existing field operations.

Monica goes on to discuss the company’s takeover of Integrated Rectifier Technologies( IRT), a Canada-based manufacturer of transformer rectifiers and related products for the cathodic protection (CP) industry with a strong and established presence in the Middle East and globally.

This strategic acquisition unites GPT’s expertise in flange isolation technology and remote asset monitoring with IRT’s long-standing reputation for reliable rectifier systems, further strengthening GPT’s role in helping operators mitigate corrosion and maintain asset integrity across energy and infrastructure sectors.

Integrating IRT’s rectifier technology with GPT’s Iso-Smart remote monitoring platform will accelerate the development of advanced remote asset integrity systems, providing operators with deeper visibility into CP performance, streamlined data collection and faster response to field issues.

“We’re really excited to be working with IRT,” says Monica. “This acquisition expands our strategy of protecting our customers’ assets in the area of cathodic protection.”

Despite advances in digital technology, many oil and gas sites across the Middle East still rely on manual entry for tank and vessel inspections, resulting in days of downtime, high scaffolding costs and risk to human life

What if you could change all that with drone technology?

Inspections drones such as the Elios 3 are revolutionising the world of confined space inspections, improving safety, reducing downtime and enhancing operational efficiency.

Join us for an exclusive live webinar hosted by Flyability in association with Oil Review Middle East on ‘Transforming oil and gas operations with the Elios 3 drone’ on Tuesday 2 September at 2pm GST. Industrial experts will explain how drones such as the Elios 3 are transforming confined space inspections, and how you can integrate this technology into your operations seamlessly.

Key highlights:

Drone integration: learn how to safety and effectively implement drones in confined space
Safety and training: understand essential safety protocols and training strategies for your team
ROI: discover how to measure and achieve a strong return on investment with drone technology
Real world use cases: hear from the engineers using drone tech in the field on the impact Elios 3 is having on in oil and gas inspections.

Speakers and host:

Fabio Fata – senior sales manager, Flyability (moderator)
Eralp Koltuk – inspection lead engineer, Tüpraş
Danijel Jovanovic – director of operations, ZainTECH

Take your operations to the next level! Don’t miss out on gaining valuable insights into how drones can make inspections safer, faster and smarter .

From making inspections in hazardous confined spaces much safer to streamlining the whole process and providing valuable real-time data, you will get to see exactly how the Elios 3 is changing the game.

Register for the free webinar here.

Government and industry responses to UN Environment Programme (UNEP) satellite methane alerts rose from 1% to 12% cent in the past year, and oil and gas methane emissions reporting has improved, but action needs to accelerate to achieve the Global Methane Pledge goal of curbing methane emissions 30% by 2030, according to a new UNEP report

Atmospheric methane continues to be the second biggest driver of climate change after carbon dioxide, responsible for about one-third of the planet’s warming, and real-world data is a critical tool to track and reduce methane emissions.

The fifth edition of the UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) publication, An Eye on Methane: From measurement to momentum, finds that member oil and gas companies of IMEO’s Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 (OGMP 2.0) are set to track one-third of emissions from global production using real-world measurements. The OGMP 2.0 is the world’s global standard for methane emissions measurement and mitigation in the oil and gas sector. Over the past five years, OGMP 2.0 membership has more than doubled to 153 companies in the countries, covering 42% of global oil and gas production.

One-third of global oil and gas production reports, or will soon report, emissions at OGMP 2.0’s Gold Standard – meaning emissions are tracked with real-world measurements. This positions a large amount of the global industry to effectively measure – and thus mitigate – emissions. One of the companies achieving 'Gold Standard reporting' in 2024 for having effectively achieved the highest levels of data quality is Eni. OGMP 2.0’s 2025 report recognized Eni for its continued progress, including identifying and quantifying emissions across non-operated assets, as well as training and technical assistance on the LDAR (Leak Detection and Repair) approach to fugitive emissions. LDAR training sessions were organised with the support of UNEP and delivered to National Oil Company (NOC) personnel.

The report highlights that while government and company responses to alerts from IMEO’s Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) have grown tenfold over the previous year, nearly 90% remain unanswered, necessitating an increase in response rates. Through MARS, UNEP has sent over 3,500 alerts about major emissions events across 33 countries. These alerts are based on satellite monitoring and artificial intelligence-supported analysis. IMEO has documented 25 cases of mitigation action in ten countries since MARS was launched in 2022, including across six new countries during the past year.

“Reducing methane emissions can quickly bend the curve on global warming, buying more time for long-term decarbonisation efforts, so it is encouraging that data-driven tools are helping the oil and gas industry to report on their emissions and set ambitious mitigation targets,” said Inger Andersen, executive director of UNEP. “But to keep the Paris Agreement targets within reach, the important progress on reporting must translate into cuts to emissions. Every company should join the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0, and both governments and operators must respond to satellite alerts – then they must act to reduce emissions.”