Global Majors Awaiting Long-hoped Iraqi Contracts

The world's three biggest integrated oil companies, British Petroleum, Exxon Mobil Corp. and the Royal Dutch/Shell Group have recently struck cooperation or training deals with Iraq, as it is drawing near to forming a new government. For instance, France's oil giant Total regularly invites Iraqi engineers to Paris for training.

Iraqi oil reserves are the world's second-largest after Saudi Arabia. World?s biggest oil companies never lost sight of the country?s resources, and now Iraq?s efforts to form the nation's first elected government in over half a century are making the prospect of major contracts.

The Shiite alliance that won a slim majority in January's Iraqi election was holding talks Monday with Kurdish parties, with both sides saying a deal was close. The new parliament is set to convene for the first time Wednesday.