ExxonMobil Iraq Ltd. signed an agreement in Baghdad for the West Qurna-1 field in southern Iraq, which has reserves of about 8.5 billion barrels, according to the oil ministry.
In just the last few weeks, more than 1, 000 people have protested at ExxonMobil and Russia Lukoil's super-giant West Qurna oil field, demanding jobs and payment for private land that has been lost or damaged by oil operations.