Norway’s DNO International has increased its reserves estimate to more than 500 million barrels of oil for the Tawke field in the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq, from previous estimates of 387 million barrels.

The company has carried revised its reserves estimate based on its recent production history and news geological and reservoir models.

“Based on our current estimates we expect the gross ultimate P50 recoverable reserves for Tawke to be in excess of 500 million barrels,” says Helge Eide, managing director, DNO.

The Natural Resources Ministry of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is conducting its first survey of its oil and gas reserves, as part of a countrywide survey of its reserves with the federal government.

DNO International has commissioned French reservoir engineering firm, Beicip Franlab to provide a new interim Tawke report based on the latest production history and the company’s updated models.

With three licences in the semi-autonomous region, DNO is also working on estimates for the Benenan and Bastora discoveries.

DNO’s produces some 70,000 barrels a day (b/d) from the Tawke field. The company has exported about 50,000 b /d from the region since the end of February through the Kirkuk pipeline to the port of Ceyhan on the Turkish coast of the Mediterranean Sea (MEED 15:5:11).