Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — A U.S. energy producer has suspended drilling operations in Kurdistan.

Hess Corp. was said to have suspended operations and evacuated non-essential staff from the autonomous region in northern Iraq.

Hess has been operating the Dinarta and Shakrok fields, 16 percent of which owned by minority partner Petroceltic. The Kurdistan Regional Government holds a 20 percent stake.

“It has been decided, as a precautionary measure, to temporarily secure and suspend operations, including the drilling of Shireen-1 exploration well in the Dinarta licence,” Petroceltic said.

Hess and its partners began drilling Shireen in June 2014, a project scheduled for completion in December 2013. Hess joins other foreign companies, including Afren and Taqa, that have fled Kurdistan in August amid the advance of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

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