ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Norwegian oil and gas company DNO reported that production at its Tawke and Peshkabir oil fields in the Kurdistan Region rose to 73,219 barrels per day in the third quarter of 2026, following a months-long suspension triggered by the US-Israeli war against Iran.
In its preliminary third-quarter results released Wednesday, DNO said gross operated production averaged 73,219 barrels per day of oil equivalent per day, up 57.2 percent from 46,572 barrels per day during the same period last year. Net production reached 54,6914 barrels per day, compared with 34,929 barrels per day a year earlier. The figure also marks a sharp recovery from just 363 barrels per day in the second quarter.
Net production, representing DNO’s share of output, reached 54,914 barrels per day, compared with 34,929 barrels per day a year earlier.
The recovery follows DNO's decision to suspend production and drilling on February 28 as a precautionary safety measure after US-Israeli strikes against Iran. The company restarted production at Tawke on June 28 and at Peshkabir on July 11, according to its operational updates.
The rebound marks a significant recovery for Kurdistan Region's oil industry, which suffered steep production and export declines during the conflict as international companies suspended operations amid security risks.
According to a July analysis by the Rudaw Research Center, production in the Kurdistan Region fell from more than 270,000 barrels per day before the war to below 70,000 barrels per day in early March, following suspensions at several oil fields.
DNO's sales also recovered in the third quarter, averaging 28,058 barrels per day after the company recorded no sales in the second quarter. The latest figure represents a 94.2 percent increase from 14,449 barrels per day in the third quarter of 2025.
The company reported an average realized oil price of $38.50 per barrel in the third quarter, up 23.4 percent from $31.20 during the same period last year.
DNO also said payments for its share of oil produced and delivered during the quarter were transferred directly to its international bank accounts through advance payments, reducing the company's financial exposure.
The Tawke license, operated by DNO, includes the Tawke and Peshkabir oil fields in the Kurdistan Region. DNO holds a 75 percent stake in the license, while Genel Energy holds the remaining 25 percent. In December 2025, DNO announced that cumulative production from the license had surpassed 500 million barrels.
The company has faced previous security disruptions in the Kurdistan Region. In July 2025, DNO reported three explosions affecting its operations, including damage to a storage tank at Tawke and surface-processing equipment at Peshkabir. The company temporarily suspended operations following the explosions, which caused no reported injuries.
During the 2026 conflict, DNO said the pace of its recovery would depend on the performance of wells and surface facilities following the prolonged shutdown, as well as regional security conditions.
The company is scheduled to publish its full third-quarter financial results on Oct 29.
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