The project was discussed again in Baghdad by Oil Minister Jabar al-Luaibi and a senior executive from Exxon Mobil in charge of extractive projects, Brad Carson, the ministry said in a statement.

The statement cited Carson as saying Exxon hopes to reach a final agreement over the project.

The "Integrated South Project" consists of building oil pipelines, storage facilities and a seawater supply project to inject water from the Gulf into the Luhais, Nassiriya, Tuba, Nahr Bin Umar and Artawi oilfields to boost oil recovery.

(Reporting by Maher Chmaytelli; editing by Jason Neely)