Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — Despite the offensive by Al Qaida, Iraq’s autonomous region of Kurdistan has maintained its crude oil sector.

Industry sources said the Kurdish Regional Government has continued oil
exports and development amid the drive by Al Qaida’s Islamic State of Iraq
and the Levant toward Baghdad. They said Western contractors have remained in
Kurdistan despite the close proximity of ISIL.

On June 23, a Canadian contractor, Oryx Petroleum, reported the first
sales of crude from Kurdistan’s Demir Dagh field.

Over a two-day period that ended on June 22, Oryx lifted 3,300 barrels of crude from Demir, located in
the Hawler license area, for delivery to an unidentified marketer believed to be Turkey.

“We now look forward to increasing production, revenue and cash flow as
we continue to develop Demir Dagh and our other Kurdistan discoveries,” Oryx
chief executive officer Michael Ebsary said.

  Demir Dagh, KRG, Kurdistan keeps the oil flowing despite ISIL threat, Oryx Petroleum