Iraq: Pipeline explosion at Zubair Oilfield kills one, injures four

On October 26, a pipeline explosion at the Zubair Oilfield in southern Iraq killed at least one worker and injured four others, the country’s Oil Ministry confirmed.

The ministry said the blast and ensuing fire were triggered by a gas leak in an ageing pumping system while workers were conducting welding operations near the pipeline, which carries crude from the Zubair field to nearby storage tanks. One of the injured workers is in critical condition, Caliber.Az reports via The National News.

Early in the afternoon, officials reported that the fire had been “brought under partial control,” noting that incidents of this nature “require time to be fully contained and extinguished.” The explosion has not disrupted operations at the oilfield, which produces around 400,000 barrels per day.

Videos shared on social media showed flames and thick black smoke rising from the site, with firefighters in protective gear using white foam to battle the blaze.

Italy’s Eni is the developer of the Zubair oilfield. Iraq is OPEC’s second-largest producer after Saudi Arabia, and oil revenue accounts for more than 90 percent of the country’s budget. Baghdad-controlled fields currently produce over four million barrels per day, up from nearly 2.4 million bpd in 2009, according to ministry data.

Also on October 26, the Oil Ministry reported that Iraq exported a total of 102.15 million barrels of oil in September, generating $6.96 billion in revenue.

By Khagan Isayev