Iraq oil deals in the north have wildcatters optimistic

It could be the new age for wildcatters, or just the new age of Iraqi oil development, but the monthly gathering of operators in Iraq's Kurdistan region is an optimistic party despite above-ground challenges that eclipse those subsoil.

...Dozens of company officials sit around a horseshoe of tables and update each other on their projects' progress. They exchange tips on the evolving dos and don'ts of operating in northern Iraq and coordinate the joint purchase of services.