The state-owned Turkish Energy Company now has a 20 percent stake in Exxon's six KRG blocks, giving Turkey a concrete interest in ensuring that oil can be sold by pipeline.
Another tanker has left Turkey with 1 million barrels of crude piped from the KRG, as Erbil and Ankara remain undeterred by Baghdad threats and U.S. objections.
A third export buoy and new platform are now operational, giving Iraq additional southern exports while the northern route remains offline.
ISIS has claimed responsibility for another deadly attack on Iraq's northern energy sector, as security forces struggle to meet the challenge posed by anti-government militants.
Turkey has facilitated the loading of KRG crude onto a tanker, raising the prospect of an escalating political dispute within Iraq and a legal battle between Baghdad and Ankara.
The Lukoil Group VP discusses the status of West Qurna 2, bidding on the upcoming Nassiriya project, and whether Kurdistan is on the radar.
Iraq's southern exports are increasing on the back of infrastructure upgrades, partially compensating for ongoing security problems in the north.
Oil flows at around 100,000 bpd since Sunday are leading up to expected sales, possibly to Turkish refining company Tupras.
Oil from federally controlled oil fields could flow through Kurdistan's new export pipeline to Turkey within six months.
Oil sales through the northern pipeline were all but shut in due to sabotage, increasing Iraq's reliance on an expanding southern export system.
