Islamic State’s oil smuggling lifeline

Islamic State (Isis) is generating more than $1.5 million a day from oil smuggling, selling an estimated 66,000 barrels per day for around $25-$30 a barrel – compared to market rates of $100 a barrel

Isis control Isis support  Oil fields  Pipeline Crossing points

Kurdish areas of control (Syria)    Kurdish regional government

2
3
4
1
5
7
8
6
Hacipasa, Reyhanli

Zakho

Hajj Omran

TURKEY
SYRIA
JORDAN
LEB. (=LEBANON)
IRAN
IRAN

Mosul
Kirkuk
Baghdad
Ramadi
Fallujah
Deir Ezzor
Raqqa
Aleppo
Damascus
Arbil
Baiji
Refinery
Hatay province
Hassakeh
province
Ceyhan oil port
Kobane

60 miles
100km

1
Tishreen: Fierce fighting between Kurdish YPG (Popular Protection Units) and Islamic State (Isis) for control of oil fields
2
Jafra oil field: Seized by Isis in April, along with nearby Conoco gas refinery. Field produces 1,000 barrels per day (bpd) which are sold for $25-$30 a barrel. Around 2,000 gas cylinders per day sell for $3.20 eahc
3
Omar: Syria’s largest oil field seized by Isis in July produces up to 20,000bpd
4 
Tanak: Local oil fields produce approximately 7,000bpd
5
Ain Zalah: Oil fields seized by Isis in August. Three oil wells set ablaze by retreating Isis militants during fighting with Kurdish Peshmerga forces
6
Qayara, Najma: Oil processed into low quality diesel or gasoline. Sold in Mosul for up to $1.50 per litre 
7
Ajil: Smugglers buy 250-barrel truckloads of crude for $6,000 each and drive to Iran or Turkey. Reports of 100 trucks loaded per day
8
Himreen: Producing 5,000-6,000bpd from five operating oil wells

$36,400 per day

$30,000 per day

$600,000 per day

$500,000 per day

$175,000per day

$180,000 per day

Sources: Maplecroft, GlobalData, Al-Monitor, Institute for the Study of War