KUWAIT CITY,  Dec 25: Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) announced on Wednesday that its heavy oil production has reached 90,000 barrels per day, marking a significant milestone for the company. This achievement, which was accomplished through the North and West Kuwait Directorate, is the first of its kind in KOC's history.

Essa Al-Maraghi, Deputy CEO of North and West Kuwait, told KUNA that reaching this level of production is a notable accomplishment and deserved recognition. He emphasized that the achievement was especially remarkable given the significant challenges involved in developing and operating the challenging heavy oil fields, as well as facing a shortage of steam injection resources, drilling rigs, and maintenance support.

Al-Maraghi further explained that the successful completion of key projects in the Ratqa field in northern Kuwait was made possible by the dedication and efforts of the teams involved. He noted that the company’s recent organizational transformation had granted greater flexibility to the departments working on the project, enabling them to adapt, excel, and accomplish their goals in record time.

He also praised the collaboration between Kuwait Oil Company and Shell International in the heavy oil project. Through an advanced technical services agreement, the two companies adopted best practices and implemented innovative initiatives to optimize steam usage, which helped overcome the challenge of steam shortages and allowed the company to exceed its production targets.

Among the initiatives introduced were the development of an automated tool to improve steam allocation, the use of quadruple reverse osmosis water, comprehensive design performance evaluations, improved extraction efficiency, and continuous monitoring of well performance. These efforts contributed significantly to enhancing production efficiency.

Al-Maraghi expressed pride in the company's management and every factor that contributed to this achievement, especially since it coincides with the company's 90th anniversary, making the accomplishment a double celebration. He affirmed that efforts will continue to boost heavy oil production, with the company aiming to reach a production level of 100,000 barrels per day by the second quarter of 2025.