Norwegian oil and gas operator DNO announced on April 26 that it intends to expand and accelerate operations in Kurdistan, northern Iraq, Platts reported.

DNO stated that its gross production in Q1 2018 averaged 113,997 b/d, 109,427 b/d of which came from its Tawke licence in Kurdistan.

The company has added a third licence in Kurdistan, assuming operatorship of the Baeshiqa licence with 40% interest partnering with ExxonMobil, Turkish Energy Company, and the Kurdistan Regional Government.

A new DNO-operated Tawke well began production earlier in April at a rate of more than 5,000 b/d. The company plans to drill additional Tawke development wells in 2018, following the mobilization of a fourth rig.

DNO also began a long-term test production at its Hawler-1A well at the Benenan heavy oil field in the northern Iran Erbil licence. Estimates for oil-in-place at Benenan stand at more than 2 billion barrels.