SLB (formerly know as Schlumberger) held a informational supplier engagement event at the Anbar International Hotel in Ramadi on February 17, specifically to spread awareness of SLB's qualification criteria for local suppliers for the Akkas gas field pilot project.
The News
SLB is currently tasked with drilling six new wells and constructing an operations center to raise production from 40 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscf/d) to 100 MMscf/d within a 9- to 12-month timeline.
Anbar Governor Omar Mish'an Dabbous attended the conclusion of the session to signal provincial government support for the project’s and reassure the involvement of local firms and talent.
Why It Matters
The decision by a major Western energy services firm to host an international-staffed briefing in Ramadi—rather than a secure site in Baghdad or Erbil—is an unusual and significant indicator of the province's improved security profile.
SLB representatives characterized the Anbar region and the Akkas field as "one of the safest places to operate" following a formal security audit. This confidence is a prerequisite for the project’s immediate goal which is supplying gas to the 1,640-megawatt Anbar combined-cycle power plant.
Governor Dabbous’s attendance at a technical procurement event is unusual and serves as a high-level political guarantee. By appearing alongside SLB management, the Governor positioned the provincial administration as a direct partner in ensuring the "national effort" led by Midland Oil Company succeeds.
This coordination is designed to reassure both the foreign operator and local contractors of a stable regulatory and security environment, while ensuring that the "fast-track" production phase—aimed at fueling the Anbar Combined Cycle Power Plant—remains on schedule for late 2026.
Bottom Line
The Ramadi event is definitive signal of an improved security environment in Anbar, showcasing stability despite elevated regional fears surrounding the Syrian government’s recent military advances into northeast Syria. The specific indicator to watch is whether SLB proceeds with the mobilization of heavy drilling rigs to the Akkas site by Q2 2026, which would confirm that local security guarantees are translating into physical field operations.
