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By Olesya Astakhova
ST PETERSBURG, Russia, June 9 (Reuters) - Gazprom Neft
Gazprom Neft is now working on three oil projects in Iraqi Kurdistan, where it is mostly engaged in exploration. In Iraq, outside the Kurdish area, Gazprom Neft is involved in the Badra oil field, where it produces 77,000 barrels per day (bpd).
Kurdish oil production has been mainly been led in recent years by mid-sized firms such as Genel. Larger companies such as Exxon Mobil
"We are looking into possibilities of increasing our exposure (to Iraqi Kurdistan). We have been offered such possibilities," Vadim Yakovlev, Gazprom Neft's first deputy chief executive, told reporters on the sidelines of an annual general meeting. He did not elaborate on the new projects.
Russian major Rosneft
Gazprom Neft, fastest growing company among Russian oil producers by volumes, also planned to increase its stake in a West Siberian project, owned by Spanish oil major Repsol
Yakovlev said the deal was expected to be completed in two to three months. The project's reserves are valued at 30 million tonnes.
Gazprom Neft Chief Executive Officer Alexander Dyukov said his company expected a rise in net profit and dividends in 2017 after it saw earnings of 200 billion roubles ($3.5 billion) and paid 10.68 roubles per share on 2016 results.
The company expected to increase its oil output further in 2018 from planned 89.2 million tonnes (1.78 million barrels per day) this year, though the future volumes would depend on how a global deal to cut oil production would pan out, Yakovlev said.
Russia has joined the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other non-OPEC producers in cutting output in a bid to reduce bloated global inventories and shore up oil prices.
Gazprom Neft operates Russia's only offshore Arctic oilfield, Prirazlomnoye, where production is seen rising to 4.5 million tonnes per year by 2019 from 2.6 million tonnes seen in 2017.
($1 = 56.9457 roubles)
(Reporting by Olesya Astakhova; Writing by Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by Edmund Blair) ((vladimir.soldatkin@reuters.com; +7 495 775 12 42; Reuters Messaging: vladimir.soldatkin.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))