ECONOMY
Aftermath of drone attack on DNO-operated Peshkhabur oil field in the Kurdistan Region's Duhok province in mid-July 2025, and DNO logo. Graphic: Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Norwegian oil firm DNO announced on Thursday that it had restored production in oil fields in the Kurdistan Region, which were targeted by drone attacks in July, adding that it plans to dig more wells to increase production to 100,000 barrels per day (bpd).
“In Kurdistan, gross production at the Tawke license, where DNO holds a 75 percent operating interest, averaged 46,600 boepd [barrels of oil equivalent per day] in the third quarter of 2025, down 38 percent from the previous quarter following damage from drone strikes in mid-July. With rapid repairs, gross production has been restored to approximately 75,000 boepd currently,” said the Norwegian firm in a statement.
Oil fields in the Kurdistan Region have repeatedly come under attack by explosive-laden drones in recent months believed to be launched by pro-Iran armed groups in Iraq.
DNO’s Tawke and Peshkhabur fields in the Kurdistan Region’s northern Duhok province were among the main targets. The Norwegian firm noted Thursday that it is planning more drilling in both fields.
“Drilling at the Tawke and Peshkabir fields will restart by yearend with the DQE-51 and Sindy rigs mobilized to drill eight wells in 2026. The Company is targeting an increase from the two fields to 100,000 boepd in gross operated production,” said the company in the statement.
Kurdistan Region's oil exports resumed late September after more than two years of suspension. The continuation came against the backdrop of an interim agreement between Baghdad, Erbil and International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in the Region.
During the suspension period, IOCs sold the produced oil to local refineries in the Kurdistan Region at a low price. DNO said on Thursday that it continues to do so.
“To ensure steady and predictable cash in support of new investments to raise production, DNO continues to sell its entitlement oil to local buyers under existing contracts at a price in the low USD 30s per barrel on a cash-and-carry basis. These buyers, in turn, deliver the oil to the export pipeline under arrangements negotiated with Kurdistan,” stated the Norwegian company.
Crucially, DNO further reported record global revenue of $547 million and operating profit of $222 million in the third quarter of this year worldwide - “both more than double the previous quarter’s figures.”
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