Gas flares burn at the Northern Kirkuk Oil in northern Iraq on January 06, 2010. (MARWAN IBRAHIM/AFP/Getty Images) Iraq’s Oil Ministry is beginning new contract talks with BP to develop the Kirkuk oil field – a potential flashpoint for political conflict now that Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region has integrated much of the field into its own, separate oil sector.Representatives from the British super-major held meetings with Iraqi officials in Baghdad on Monday, according to Oil Ministry Spokesman Assem Jihad.”The Oil Ministry’s relations with BP regarding Kirkuk are continuing,” Jihad said. “Th… This content is for registered users. Please login to continue. If you are not a registered user, you may purchase a subscription or sign up for a free trial .