Production increased sharply at key southern fields but infrastructure bottlenecks still limit Iraq's ability to take advantage of rising OPEC quotas.
Baghdad is expanding its campaign to invalidate Kurdistan's oil contracts, filing new cases against the Russian and Emirati companies.
Iraq's crude sales receded in July as seasonal demand spikes fueled domestic consumption and quality issues hurt the marketing of Basra Heavy.
Weatherford and three other companies with subcontracts in Kurdistan are barred from work in southern Iraq, as Baghdad continues campaign to reverse KRG oil sector independence.
Production and exports are rising as OPEC-plus quotas continue to loosen and high global oil prices bring record revenues.
Projects nearing completion this year could boost refining capacity by 140,000 bpd, despite chronic failures to attract foreign capital.
New amendments give the KRG's ruling party control of the energy sector's main policymaking body, which had been dormant for more than two years.
Secretive ruling marks escalation in Oil Ministry campaign to end Kurdistan's oil sector independence.
The Oil Ministry’s lawsuit against seven oil companies operating in Kurdistan gained momentum as a Baghdad judge moves toward reviewing contracts.
Three major U.S. oil services companies have now told the Oil Ministry they will comply with new restrictions stemming from February's landmark court ruling against Kurdistan.
Oil Ministry pressure tactics are beginning to inflict pain in the wake of the Federal Supreme Court's landmark ruling against Kurdistan's energy sector.
Repeated attacks have halted a major U.S.-financed project to expand Kurdistan’s electricity feedstock and develop extra capacity toward potential, future gas exports to Europe.
Defending its oil sector independence, the KRG has so far succeeded at entangling Baghdad's legal offensive in procedural delays.
OPEC's second-largest producer is struggling to take advantage of loosening quotas and spare capacity due to infrastructure bottlenecks.
Expansive policy targets both IOCs and sub-contractors, raising pressure on Kurdistan's oil sector amidst legal battles.
A new lawsuit filed in Erbil could complicate the Oil Ministry's legal action in Baghdad against Kurdistan's oil companies.
Monthly oil revenues topped $11 billion, boosted by high global prices, but export levels slipped as Iraq bumps up against infrastructure constraints.
Oil companies did not send authorized representatives to court Sunday, prompting a delay in the Oil Ministry's new lawsuit seeking to enforce a landmark ruling against Kurdistan's oil sector.
IOCs summoned to appear in federal commercial court as Oil Ministry also signals international legal campaign against Kurdistan's oil sector independence.
High oil prices are spurring international oil companies in Kurdistan to raise production, even as they face new legal threats, political upheaval, and commercial uncertainty.
Output increases at several IOC-operated fields in southern Iraq were offset by cuts from Basra's state-operated fields.
Iraq's North Oil Company has accused the KRG of trying to grab control of oil wells at Bai Hassan field, reflecting a long history of mistrust and political friction.
Countrywide oil sales have rebounded to their highest level in two years, although infrastructure bottlenecks threaten to limit further increases.
Production is rising at the Gharraf field, while the Subba field prepares to come back online and the Nassiriya field starts a new drilling program.
