BAGHDAD—Iraq’s oil industry is experiencing a technological transformation through Chinese innovation, with advanced drilling systems significantly enhancing operational efficiency and safety standards. At the forefront of this revolution is China Oilfield Services, whose cutting-edge equipment has become integral to Iraq’s energy infrastructure.
In Maysan Governorate’s maintenance facilities, Chinese technicians work alongside Iraqi engineers to maintain the sophisticated Xuanji drilling system. This high-end technology, independently developed by China Oilfield Services in 2014, represents a breakthrough in drilling capabilities that previously remained under the exclusive control of Western corporations.
The Xuanji system incorporates two groundbreaking technologies: rotary steerable drilling that provides enhanced power and safety, and logging-while-drilling that functions as a subterranean vision system. This combination allows precise navigation through rock formations thousands of meters underground, accurately identifying oil-bearing structures with unprecedented accuracy.
Since its introduction to Iraqi operations in 2020, the system has achieved remarkable milestones, drilling 85,000 cumulative meters with over 21,000 hours of downhole operation. Complementing this technology, the Xuanyue system employs advanced cable-deployed instrumentation using acoustic, electrical, and nuclear magnetic resonance technologies to map hydrocarbon reservoirs, making previously invisible resources detectable and measurable.
The Xuanyue technology has completed more than 5,000 logging operations in Iraq, directly contributing to increased reserves and production capabilities. Iraqi engineer Hussein Mohammed, who has collaborated extensively with Chinese technicians, confirmed that these advanced systems have made oilfield operations ‘smarter and more efficient.’
According to An Haiyang, general manager of China Oilfield Services’ Iraq branch, these technologies represent more than just equipment—they embody a new era of energy cooperation between China and Iraq. The successful implementation of these systems has injected fresh momentum into bilateral energy partnerships while promoting technological upgrading within Iraq’s energy sector.
The collaboration demonstrates how international technological partnerships can create win-win scenarios, enhancing operational capabilities while strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between nations.