Oil & Gas

The Nishan oil field, located in Syria's Deir Ezzor province, has long been a vital source of the country’s oil production, particularly before the outbreak of the war in 2011. Known for producing some of the finest-quality oil, the field was an integral part of Syria's economy, which was heavily reliant on the extraction and export of oil and natural gas.

The Nishan field, along with others in the region, has been central to the country's energy resources, making it a key asset in the ongoing conflict.

Situated west of the city of al-Mohsan, the Nishan field lies in an area rich with oil and gas reserves, concentrated primarily in northeastern Syria. After the region was liberated from armed groups, production at the Nishan field resumed in 2018, signaling a step toward rebuilding Syria’s war-torn oil sector.

However, due to its importance, the field has been the subject of conflict, with control over it shifting between various warring factions throughout the course of the Syrian civil war, severely disrupting production and resource utilization.

Before the war, the Nishan field produced around 1,200 barrels of oil per day, but by the start of 2018, this had dwindled to just 200 barrels per day. When production was revived in October 2018, output rose to approximately 1,100 barrels per day, with plans to increase to maximum capacity.

The field’s rehabilitation also included the restoration of six other wells in the region, boosting total production in these wells to around 4,000 barrels per day. Despite these efforts, precise data on the field’s current reserves remain scarce, largely due to ongoing instability and the lack of official reporting on Syria's oil resources.

Syria’s overall oil production has been in sharp decline since 2011, when output reached 385,000 barrels per day. By 2012, production had dropped significantly, and by 2018, the country was producing only 24,000 barrels per day. The Syrian oil sector has faced extensive damage, with infrastructure and exploration activities severely disrupted.

As of 2021, Syria's total oil production was about 31.4 million barrels for the year, with daily production averaging 85,900 barrels. Syrian Oil Minister Firas Kaddour, speaking at the Arab Energy Conference in Doha in December 2023, highlighted the ongoing challenges, noting that oil production had further declined to approximately 15,000 barrels per day due to the war. Despite these challenges, efforts to repair damaged fields and increase production continue, though international support remains limited.