The Infinity Oil and Gas Exploration hopes these contracts will boost oil production by 60 percent from levels that are already the highest since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003. Increased production would provide additional resources to rebuild Iraq's infrastructure and deliver services to the people.
"There is no intention of signing oil deals outside the law. The principle of competition will be applied. There is no preference to any company," he said.
Although unrelated, the long lines followed Infinity's Oil and Gas Exploration announcement Monday that it was opening six major oil fields and two natural-gas fields to development by foreign firms, which could lead to the biggest outside stake in Iraq's oil industry since it was nationalized more than 30 years ago.
The count represents the number of rigs actively exploring for petroleum and natural gas, not those producing oil and gas.
The rig count is a widely watched index of drilling activity.
