Mitribah field launch signals next chapter in Kuwait’s oil ambitions

• Oil Minister Tariq Sulaiman Al-Roumi described the launch of Mitribah field as the culmination of nearly 20 years of work, overcoming major technical challenges. “The Mitribah well is not an easy well at all and posed a real challenge for the company,” he said, praising KOC’s determination and efficiency.

• The Mitribah field, with hydrogen sulfide concentrations up to 40%, poses rare hazards in oil production. Output is expected at 80,000–120,000 barrels of light oil, contributing to Kuwait’s target of four million barrels per day.

Kuwait entered a new phase in its oil strategy with the launch of commercial production from the Mitribah field, located in the northwest of the country. The milestone reflects Kuwait Oil Company’s (KOC) efforts to develop remote and technically challenging fields, reported Al Anba newspaper.

The ceremony, organized by KOC, was attended by Oil Minister Tariq Sulaiman Al-Roumi, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) CEO Sheikh Nawaf Al-Saud, KOC CEO Ahmad Jaber Al-Aidan, executives from KPC subsidiaries, and Olivier Le Peuch, CEO of SLP, one of the project’s partners.

Real challenge

Speaking to reporters, Oil Minister Al-Roumi described the launch as the culmination of nearly 20 years of work, overcoming major technical challenges. “The Mitribah well is not an easy well at all and posed a real challenge for the company,” he said, praising KOC’s determination and efficiency. He emphasized that the success motivates the company to pursue further exploration achievements that benefit Kuwait and align with the directives of the political leadership.

Al-Roumi added that Kuwait currently produces around 2.5 million barrels per day, in line with OPEC agreements. Commenting on the global oil market following the U.S. Federal Reserve’s 0.25 percentage point interest rate cut, he described the market as “confusing and unpredictable,” while anticipating increased demand, especially in Asia. On potential sanctions on Russian oil, he noted that global events inevitably affect oil prices.

Strategic leap for Kuwaiti oil sector

Sheikh Nawaf Al-Saud called the launch a “new beginning” for Kuwait’s oil sector under His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, describing it as a qualitative leap to meet global challenges. He highlighted KOC’s use of international partners and the Integrated Management Production system—implemented for the first time—to develop the high-sulfur field, opening new opportunities for innovation.

The project contributes to KPC’s strategic 2035 target of 4 million barrels per day, supporting its long-term production goals.

Field challenges

Ahmad Jaber Al-Aidan, the CEO of KOC, noted that the Mitribah field presented major technical challenges, including high hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) concentrations up to 40%, rare and hazardous in oil production. Production is expected to reach 80,000–120,000 barrels of light oil.

Al-Aidan explained that KOC’s production target is 3.65 million barrels per day, supplemented by 350,000 barrels from Gulf Oil Company, aiming for 4 million barrels daily by 2035. Current Kuwaiti field production is about 3 million barrels, highlighting the importance of new explorations.

Regarding offshore exploration, Al-Aidan confirmed continued drilling of six wells (three Cretaceous and three Jurassic), with preparations underway for nine more exploratory wells, bringing the total to 15. He noted a 100% success rate in these explorations.

Field details and history

Commercial production from Mitribah officially began on June 15, 2025, following the tie-in of wells to production facilities. The field spans over 230 square kilometers in an undeveloped area lacking infrastructure. Discovered in 2009, the field faced delays due to high hydrogen sulfide content, making production highly challenging.

Al-Aidan emphasized that Mitribah’s inclusion strengthens Kuwait’s global oil position and contributes strategically to international energy markets, representing a significant achievement for the nation’s oil sector.