BAGHDAD (Commodity Online): International consortium led by Gazprom Neft, the oil arm of energy giant Gazprom, has requested Iraqi authorities to help clear mines at the Badra oil deposit, the Iraqi media reported on Sunday.

Gazprom Neft said that mine clearing at the deposit with estimated reserves of 2 billion barrels of oil equivalent was required to ensure the company's risk-free operation on the site.

The largest number of mine fields is located near the border town of Badra.The consortium, which also includes South Korea's KoGas (with a 22.5% stake in the project), Malaysia's Petronas (15%) and Turkey's TPAO (7.5%), won the tender to develop the Badra oilfield in late 2009.

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