Explosion rocks Iraq's Sarsang oil field, halting operations

In the early hours of July 15, an explosion occurred at the Sarsang oil field in Jamanki subdistrict, part of Amedi district in Duhok province, forcing the suspension of operations, according to the field’s operator, US-based HKN Energy.

The company said on X that the blast took place around 7:00 a.m. at one of its production facilities. No casualties were reported, but the facility caught fire, Caliber.Az reports.

The cause of the explosion has not been confirmed.

An investigation has been launched, and operations will remain suspended until the site is secured and fully assessed.

Sarsang is a producing onshore oil field located in Block Sarsang. It is jointly owned by HKN Energy, the Kurdistan Regional Government, and ShaMaran Petroleum. The field currently accounts for about 1 per cent of Iraq’s daily oil output. An expansion project, East Swara Tika, is in the feasibility stage and expected to begin in 2027.

The incident occurred less than 24 hours after an attack targeted the Khurmala oil field in Erbil province. According to the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Natural Resources, two explosive-laden drones struck the site on Monday night, damaging water pipelines but causing no casualties.

Authorities have not confirmed whether the two incidents are connected.

By Khagan Isayev