According to NIDC, Karamali Naderi, head of the marketing and international cooperation administration of NIDC, said the deal concerns drilling operations in Iraqi oilfields.

"Regarding the fact that NIDC is considering bids in tenders held by ENI and Lukoil in Iraq, the company has joined an Iraqi partner to take required measures for carrying out drilling projects in the country," he said.

ENI has won licensing rounds to dig 39 wells in Basra and Az Zubair fields and Lukoil is the winning bidder to repair 4 wells in the country, he added.

Based on the MOU, NIDC will support drilling operations of the Iraqi partner in the fields, Naderi added.