Steep reduction at Rumaila brought Iraq's December production average to its lowest level in 18 months as Iraq continues to restrain output in an effort to meet OPEC-plus expectations.
For the second straight month, Iraq has increased production by more than 100,000 bpd as it unleashes latent capacity.
Despite ongoing violence, including a weekend pipeline bombing, the Baiji refinery's resumption of operations marks progress in Iraq's northern oil sector.
Iraq's Federal Supreme Court is struggling to appoint impartial technical experts to help parse the arguments over the legality of Kurdistan's independent oil sector.
The recent killing of a protester fueled renewed anti-government demonstrations in Basra city and around several oil fields, some of which turned deadly.
Surge in output from both federal Iraq and Kurdistan were backed by increasing oil prices.
The Supreme Court rescinded the appointment of a technical expert after KRG lawyers challenged his objectivity, further delaying a case to adjudicate Baghdad-KRG oil disputes.
The Basra governor wants to hold IOCs responsible for building treatment plants for a province starved of clean water.
Meeting on Thursday paves way for study of three fields as Iraqi officials envision larger role for Chevron.
Demonstrations continued for a fifth week as protesters say demands remain unanswered.
Oil Ministry unleashes latent capacity from state-run fields in July, more than compensating for production dips resulting from protests in southern Iraq.
