Key facts
- Syria has regained control of key oil fields in Deir ez-Zor and Hasakah provinces.
- The Syrian Petroleum Company (SPC) has restarted crude transfers to refineries.
- HKN Energy is set to begin operations at the Rmeilan fields.
- ConocoPhillips has partnered with SPC and Novaterra Energy to rehabilitate gas fields.
Syria's oil sector is experiencing a revival as Damascus reasserts control over key producing fields, a development that is weakening Russia's influence in the country. Following a January military offensive, Damascus has recovered significant oil assets in Deir ez-Zor and Hasakah provinces, territories previously held by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
The Syrian Petroleum Company (SPC) has resumed operations, restarting the transfer of crude oil from the Omar and Tanak fields in Deir ez-Zor to the Baniyas refinery. Similarly, SPC teams took over the main Hasakah oil assets, Rmeilan and Sweidiya, in February, with crude from these fields beginning to move to the Homs and Baniyas refineries in March. HKN Energy was preparing to commence operations at the government-controlled Rmeilan fields by June. Gulfsands has also confirmed that SPC took custody of the Khurbet East and Yousefieh fields in late February or early March.
In a significant development for the country's energy infrastructure, ConocoPhillips has entered into an agreement with SPC and Novaterra Energy. This partnership, established in June, focuses on rehabilitating existing onshore gas fields and developing new production. The immediate target is to increase daily gas output by an additional 4 million to 5 million cubic meters within the first year, which equates to approximately 140 million to 170 million cubic feet per day. This upstream development is described as SPC's largest to date.