Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – KBR and AKT have signed a contract to complete the comprehensive engineering design for Iraq’s West Qurna Gas Capture Project, which advances Basrah Gas Company’s efforts to collect associated gas and minimize flaring in southern oilfields.

KBR will offer engineering expertise for the design work in partnership with AKT, since the project is part of Basrah Gas Company’s (BGC) larger gas collection initiative.

The project aims to collect associated gas generated with crude oil from West Qurna, which would otherwise be burnt, enabling more of the resource to be processed and consumed domestically.

Expanding gas capture is critical to Iraq’s attempts to prevent flaring, enhance local gas supplies, and make better use of its energy resources, especially as the country seeks to reduce its dependency on imported gas and fuel for power production.

The West Qurna development is one of many gas projects now underway in southern Iraq, where some of the country’s major oilfields are located and significant amounts of associated gas are generated.

KBR said that the deal strengthens its role in gas monetization and energy infrastructure projects in Iraq and the broader Middle East.

The companies did not disclose the contract’s amount or the timeframe for completing the detailed engineering design.