BAGHDAD: In the scorching summer, rows of towering date palms and vibrant desert tamarisks create a vivid scene in the Ahdab oil field in Iraq’s Wasit province, a stark contrast to the salty wasteland it once was.
Ahdab Oilfield, Iraq’s first post-war international oil cooperation project, broke ground in 2009 and began production in 2011. Operated by China’s Al-Waha Petroleum Company, the project has reflected a commitment to both energy production and environmental stewardship since its inception.
“Our company not only strives to increase oil production, but also pays great attention to protecting the local environment,” said Jiang Ming, CEO of Al-Waha Petroleum, emphasizing his company’s belief that environmental protection is as important as oil production. .
The practice of associated gas flaring—the burning of natural gas produced along with oil—was a particular problem. But with Ahdab, the story is different.
In late 2011, the Ahdab Oilfield Central Processing Plant was completed, making it the first facility in Iraq to fully cover oil, gas and water treatment processes.
The plant converts this valuable resource into sulphur, dry gas and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), significantly reducing waste and emissions. The dry gas is used to power the oil field and is also exported to Iraq’s largest thermal power plant, helping to meet the country’s growing demand for energy.
To further minimize the impact on the environment, Ahdab has implemented a comprehensive waste water recycling system. Produced water, a byproduct of oil extraction, is treated and re-injected into the oil reservoir to maintain pressure. Domestic oilfield wastewater is also treated and reused for irrigation.
Al-Waha Petroleum’s efforts have not gone unnoticed.
The company has won a number of awards for its environmental achievements, including the China Construction Engineering Luban Prize, China’s most prestigious architecture and construction award, for surface oil field construction.
