American oil company Occidental Petroleum has formally notified the Oil Ministry it plans to withdraw from the Zubair project.
Iraq's Oil Ministry is hoping ExxonMobil and CNPC will either fund or takeover a crucial water pipeline project, with an oil deal as payment.
Federal oil sales decline as storms impede Basra Gulf loadings and northern exports are lost to KRG independent sales.
The Malaysian firm operating the Garraf field objects as Dhi Qar province restricts visas in an effort to replace foreign staff with Iraqis.
Kurdistan's oil trading arrangements have provided independent revenue streams, but they also present problems, including rising debts and further political controversy.
Previous nominee replaced by Kirkuk-approved leader, despite previous objections over ethnicity.
Polarized by the dispute over President Barzani's tenure, rivals factions in Kurdistan are targeting Ashti Hawrami with political attacks and a legal investigation.
Iraq exports remained steady due to strong southern output, offsetting losses in the north, where Kurdistan has appropriated all federal production into independent sales.
The Egypt General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) has taken a 10 percent stake in the Kuwait Energy-led exploration contract for Block 9 in Basra.
New directors general named for the state-run companies responsible for refining in southern Iraq and gas in northern Iraq.
