Eriell, a leading Russian oilfield services group, has signed a contract with Lukoil Middle East to drill 25 production wells at the West Qurna-2 oilfield, a report said.

The contract provides for the project implementation within two years, including the mobilization period of 120 days, added the Iraq Business News report, noting that Eriell plans to begin operations early next year.

“Company’s entry to the Iraq market marks the beginning of development of the Middle East region, which we deem extremely promising in terms of implementation of the Eriell strategy of the contract portfolio geographical diversification,” Vitaly Dokunikhin, executive director of Eriell Group was quoted as saying in the report.