Events and activities have escalated steadily and rapidly, rising since the beginning of the 1970s. Investment and development stages of the north Rumaila field were completed in three stages, leading to a rate of production of 42 million tons per year and this coincided with the expansion of works in all fields. The expansion began with drilling works, building and expanding production facilities, and implementing investment projects associated with natural gas fields in north and south Rumaila. Also developing new fields in Luhais, Saba, Nuhran Ben Ummer and oil fields in Maysan. Laying out an exporting pipe line, expanding export facilities and infrastructure sites for the comp. During the mid–1970s there was a decree to nationalize the Basra oil company (BPC) and the activities of the Erab company in Maysan. There was attachment to the oil operation and establishment of the national oil company. The SOC was classified as the first company in Iraq and the eighth in production rating for global oil companies. The company activities covered a geographical area of 180,000 m² stretching from the Arab Gulf to Hadeth. During the 1970s the maximum rate of production from the south field was 2.75 million barrels per day (437,000 m3/d) and the planned limit was 4 million barrels per day (640,000 m3/d).