General Electric (GE) Oil & Gas has established a new technology and service centre in the heart of Iraqs oil-rich North Rumaila region
The facility, located close to Basra, brings the latest GE technology and expertise to local customers to help boost production in the Rumaila oil field.
Rami Qasem, GE president and CEO for the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey (pictured), said, "The new Basra centre provides a broad spectrum of solutions under one roof and is situated locally to meet our customers' demands for rapid drilling and production support.
"The centre not only builds on our long-term commitment to the country, but also complements the government's focus on promoting job creation and nurturing the technical skills of the Iraqi professionals," Qasem added.
In addition to being a base for the supply of pressure control equipment to Iraq's drilling and production sector, the new centre provides a wide range of services including installation and maintenance, testing, inspections, repair and storage.
Future services will include complete non-destructive testing capabilities, machine, welding and heat treatment, blasting and painting and American Petroleum Institute (API) certification and re-certification.
More than 250 production wells currently are operating in the Rumaila oil field, located in southern Iraq. The oil produced from the field represents about 40 per cent of Iraq's total oil production.
