Oil Exploration Company Participates in Scientific Symposium on Hydrocarbon Potential in Western Desert

As part of its efforts to support and develop the academic sector in Iraq and enhance continuous cooperation with Iraqi universities, Oil Exploration Company (OEC) participated in the scientific symposium organized by the University of Anbar under the slogan "Anbar gas is a pillar of the national economy", by a paper entitled "Hydrocarbon Potential in Western Sahara" presented by Deputy Director General for Administrative Affairs, Mr. Hussein Showail Odeh, on Tuesday, 18 February 2025, at Ibn Sina Hall at the College of Science.

This cooperation reflects OEC’s firm commitment to the exchange of knowledge and expertise, as it continuously seeks to support scientific research through active participation in scientific conferences and symposia, which contributes to promoting the exploration and development of hydrocarbon resources and opens wide horizons for achieving sustainable development in Iraq. The symposium dealt with the stages of development of natural gas as one of the alternative energy sources, as it is the ideal fuel globally, and it is extracted either as free gas or natural gas or as associated gas. It reviewed the history of gas investment in Iraq, as oil production began in 1927, and the associated gas was burned or used to generate energy, until Iraq began in the late sixties to invest it to generate electricity and transfer the surplus to domestic and industrial uses.

The symposium also highlighted the importance of boosting investment in natural gas, especially in promising areas such as Western Sahara, by intensifying seismic surveys, understanding the geological and stratigraphic framework, and locating hydrocarbon fisheries. The discussions indicated that the presence of a number of productive fields in neighboring countries such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Syria, enhances the chances of successful exploration operations and reduces the risks associated with them.

Through this participation, OEC confirms its commitment to contribute to the development of the energy sector in Iraq, and its keenness to support research projects that contribute to achieving gas self-sufficiency and enhancing its role as a major source of energy in the future.