Design work is ongoing on the $850m Tuba-Fao pipeline project, according to a spokesperson from the Russian energy company Lukoil.

The Tuba-Fao pipeline project is one of 16 packages that make up the $4bn West Qurna-2 Oil Field Development project.

The field is being developed by Lukoil in partnership with Iraq’s state-owned South Oil Company.

West Qurna-2 is one of the largest oil fields in the world and its estimated recoverable oil reserves total approximately 13 billion barrels, which will be produced from two major formations: Mishrif and Yamama. 

“In order to expand the oil export infrastructure in the south of Iraq, as part of the West Qurna-2 field development project, Lukoil is planning to implement the Tuba-Fao project involving construction of two pipelines from the existing Tuba Tank Farm to the Fao Tank Farm,” the spokesman said in an emailed statement.

Fao is Iraq’s main export hub located on the Gulf coast.

Lukoil tendered the design contract for the Tuba-Fao pipeline project on 6 April 2015.

In the latest comments to MEED, the Lukoil spokesperson did not name the company that won the design contract.