Special to WorldTribune.com

MOSCOW — Russia wants U.S. help in energy development in Iraq.

Russia’s Rosneft has been negotiating an agreement to team with the U.S.
company ExxonMobil for a joint project in Iraq. Industry sources said the
target was Iraq’s huge West Qurna-1 oil field.

“These two companies have been very serious about partnerships around
the world, and Iraq is a leading market,” a source said.

On June 22, Russia’s business daily, Kommersant, reported that Rosneft
has sought to acquire 20 percent of West Qurna-1, a field with an estimated
8.7 billion barrels of oil.

Kommersant said the talks between ExxonMobil and
Rosneft could be concluded by August 2012.

  8.7 billion barrels of oil, Kommersant, Russia seeks major energy partnership with ExxonMobil in Iraq, Russia’s Rosneft, West Qurna-1 oil field