[13][14] After decades of under investment, by the early 2000s, the field was suffering not only from the natural base decline of its reservoirs, but also from ageing infrastructure and equipment, compromising production capacity, environmental protection and safety.

Following bidding rounds in the first decade of the 2000s, a Technical Service Contract was signed between BOC and BP, PetroChina and the State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) in 2009.

This detailed the establishment of ROO as the operator of the oilfield and led to the introduction of new technologies and infrastructure, training and equipment for staff, and an extensive drilling and expansion programme.

BECL was established to enable continued and optimized investment in the field, including enhanced access to external financing.

Facilities include a headquarters, waste management centre, supply base and training academy.

[6][7][8] The oil sits approximately 2,400 m (7,900 ft) below the surface which is considered an easy target for production.

[13][14] In addition, Kuwait had been producing quantities of oil, which were above treaty limits established by OPEC.

During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the Iraqi Ground Forces laid an 18 km long defensive minefield across it, which contained an estimated 100,000 mines.

[15] Iraqi Environment Minister Jassem al-Falahi later admitted that "pollution from oil production is the main reason for increases in local cancer rates."