Karkouk's oil exports will not exceed 300,000 barrels

The American army announced yesterday that exports through the oil pipelines from Karkouk oil field in northern Iraq to the Turkish port of Jeihan is estimated between 200 to 300 thousands barrels of oil every day in the first phases. A number which is less that the estimates of Turkish sources which said that the line pumps more than 450,000 barrels every day.

Chief engineer at the fourth contingent for troops, Robert Nicklson said in a statement "I do not expect the average to be in the first phases much higher than between 200 to 300 thousands barrels a day." He added "enough amounts of oil were pumped in Karkok line to give a definite estimate to the current flow rates," despite the fact that sources at the Turkish oil industry said earlier yesterday that some 3500 cubic meters pumping per hour is equal to more than 500,000 barrels per day through the line.

Nicklson also said that oil production of the northern fields in Iraq reached 504,000 barrels daily on Wednesday with the repumping of some of these amounts in wells.