The Shell-led Basrah Gas Co. (BGC) will start up a long-delayed project in Iraq next week that should slash the high volumes of associated gas flared at the country's giant southern oil fields and move it a step closer to ending costly gas imports from Iran. The $3 billion project comprises two new trains that will each add 200 million cubic feet per day to BGC's existing gas-processing capacity of 1 billion cubic feet per day. The new trains will capture gas that is currently flared at three oil fields awarded in Iraq's first licensing round after the US-led invasion in 2003 — Zubair, West Qurna-1 and Rumaila. Those ... (full story)