Iraqi crude output continued a steady rise in October, although bad weather put a damper on exports and highlighted infrastructure constraints.
Kurdistan's oil sales are steadily growing; a Rosneft-funded oil pipeline has finally reached the 1 million bpd benchmark; and oil companies are getting paid.
In a dramatic shift away from recent austerity policies, Iraq's Cabinet has proposed a 27 percent increase in spending with a $111 billion draft budget.
Strong global oil prices helped Iraq compensate for its second straight month of decreasing export rates.
Parliament has officially confirmed the new prime minister and a majority of his Cabinet, although key posts, including defense and interior ministers, are unresolved.
Pacific Future Energy reaches deal to build 150,000 bpd refinery.
The widely respected technocrat will serve as both deputy prime minister for energy and oil minister in Adil Abd al-Mahdi's new government.
Crude from the Sonangol-operated field south of Mosul is being trucked to market via the Khor al-Zubair port in Basra.
New gas production could help Iraq improve electricity service while weaning itself from Iranian energy imports.
Three months after OPEC began relaxing production quotas, Iraq is continuing to grab market share.
