Najaf governor says new oil well being prepared at Gurnin field

NAJAF, Iraq — The governor of Najaf, Yusuf Kenawi, said Wednesday that a drilling site is being prepared for a new oil well at the Gurnin oil field in the province. He said installation and preparation work at the site has been completed as part of a plan to develop and explore oil reserves within the province. Kenawi noted that two wells have already been drilled at Gurnin and that a contracted Chinese company has finished exploration work. He said crude oil production at the field is expected to begin within roughly one year. The Gurnin field is among Najaf's most important discoveries, covering an area of about 8,773 square kilometers along the Iraq-Saudi Arabia border. Exploration work in the area has produced positive data pointing to the presence of oil and natural gas reserves.