Blast hits oil well in Iraq's Kirkuk field

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=6038533&cKey=1125044444000

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Insurgents sabotaged an exporting oil well in Iraq on Friday, stepping up pressure on the U.S.-backed government struggling to steer Iraq through a political crisis over a draft constitution.

In an all too familiar scene in a country with the world's third largest oil reserves, flames threatened to halt output from the well, which pumps 7,000 to 10,000 barrels per day (bpd) and feeds a pipeline to Turkey.

An Iraqi oil official said firefighters were battling the blaze in the northern Kirkuk oilfields, which have been spared the relentless attacks on domestic and export oil pipelines in the region.

Hours after the parliament speaker announced politicians needed more time to finalise the constitution after relentless wrangling, insurgents reminded them of economic turmoil with the well blast.

[liberal N proud]

1. Now we will have to raise the price of Gasoline another $.30

[sarcasmo]

2. The barrel price goes up now because of a Hurricane in the Gulf.

Prices will really rise Thanks to this. Looks like my three dollars a gallon prediction by labor day a few months ago is going to come true. Here in West Michigan buying Citgo gas costs me 2.75 viva Chavez.

[alcuno]

3. I think they are watching FAUX News.

Just the other day, they were doing a report on progress in Iraq and there was a lot of boasting going on by the hosts about how the pipeline had finally been secured; that it had taken time to get it done but that there were no longer attacks on the pipelines.

[SpiralHawk]

4. "Hang loose." - Geroge W. Bush

"It's all part of my global strategery."