ExxonMobil has withdrawn its 30 foreign staff from Iraq’s West Qurna 1 field, according to Iraqi state-run Basra Oil Company, following a US State Department warning about security risks from Iran-backed paramilitary groups. Production would not be impacted, BOC said in a statement Saturday. “In a temporary precautionary procedure, the operator of West Qurna 1 field has decided to move its office from Basra to Dubai,” BOC said. “It is an act that didn’t, nor will it, affect the production capacity of crude or natural gas.” The field, which currently produces 440,000 to 490,000 b/d of oil and 150 to 200 Mcf/d iof gas is run jointly with BOC staff under ExxonMobil supervision, and ExxonMobil will continue to manage the field from its Dubai office, BOC added. The statement said development and scheduled maintenance will […]