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Page added on November 12, 2013
Baker Hughes Issues Force Majeure in Iraq
Baker Hughes Incorporated announced Monday that a protest incident by local residents occurred last Saturday at a subsidiary’s facility near Basrah, Iraq. No injuries were suffered and the facility was secured. The incident is currently under investigation. Due to the significant disruption of business, Baker Hughes has suspended operations in Iraq, and has issued force majeure notices to its customers.
“Baker Hughes supports the Iraqi oil industry,” commented Martin Craighead, chairman and chief executive officer of Baker Hughes. “And the safety and welfare of our employees are our top priorities. While we investigate this incident, and until the work environment has stabilized, we are halting activities in Iraq. We hope to resolve this issue in a timely manner, and resume operations in support of our customers and the country of Iraq, as soon as it is safe to do so.”
One Comment on "Baker Hughes Issues Force Majeure in Iraq"
rockman on Tue, 12th Nov 2013 3:59 pm
The “incident”: On Saturday, an Egyptian worker hired by Baker Hughes to work at a drilling rig in Rumaila removed and tore a flag also depicting a holy Shi’ite figure, prompting Iraqi authorities to terminate his residency and expel him from the country, oil officials said. The workhorse of Iraq’s oil industry, Rumaila is operated by BP with China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC). It has estimated reserves of 17 billion barrels and currently produces around 1.4 million bpd, more than a third of Iraq’s total output of over 3 million bpd. “The workers and villagers went on a rampage. It was a fatal mistake from the foreign security guy to provoke local workers,” said an oil ministry official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “When you operate in a mainly Shi’ite community you have to respect their traditions and norms: it’s the A B C of how to work in any environment.”