As a part of the development program of Forouzan offshore oilfield in the Persian Gulf, the QB topside of FYA platform in the field has been installed on the QA topside.
The installation of the new topside, weighing 152 tons, was accomplished by the Iranian Offshore Oil Company, the Oil Ministry’s news agency Shana reported.
Earlier in mid-July, the 160-ton QA topside was located on the main floors.
Plans are underway to place the roof and heli floors on the structure and by doing so, the construction of FYA platform with a total weight of 1,300 tons will be completed by late September.
The completion of the construction and installation of FYA residential platform with a capacity of 70 people will help solve the problem of housing the operational staff of the Forouzan oilfield.
Executive operations for the construction of the five-story FZA processing platform are underway, which will transfer the associated petroleum gas to onshore plants to reduce gas flaring in the field.
The development projects to increase oil output from the field also include drilling 13 wells, repair operations at 13 other wells that are operational, the establishment of a 27-km-long subsea pipeline and the installation of associated cables.
The projects are estimated to cost $314 million.
A joint field located 100 km southeast of Kharg Island in Persian Gulf, Forouzan has 53 wells and is linked with Marjan Oilfield of Saudi Arabia.
More than 80% of the hydrocarbon reserves of the field lie in Saudi Arabian waters.
The field produces about 40,000 barrels of crude oil per day and the development project seeks to raise production by about 12,000 barrels per day.
Oil from Forouzan is transferred to onshore installations via a 20-inch offshore pipeline for storage at Kharg Oil Terminal. It was discovered in 1966 with an estimated in-place reserve of 2.309 billion barrels of crude.
More than 85% of the equipment and services used in Forouzan Oilfield are provided by Iranian manufacturers and companies.
Iran continues to develop its massive oil and gas sector, despite American hostility and plunging exports.
Former US president, Donald Trump, withdrew from the landmark 2015 Iran nuclear deal in 2018 and reimposed economic sanctions, mainly targeting the key oil, banking and shipping industries.
However, expansion activities have continued despite sanctions, dismal global demand and falling prices due to the spread of coronavirus and universal lockdown measures to fight the deadly disease.
Authorities say higher production would meet growing domestic demand while it would ensure a quick return to international markets when US pressure tactics end.
Negotiations are underway between Tehran and six major powers to lift US sanctions that reduced oil production since 2018.
Iran and the six powers have been in talks since April to revive the nuclear deal, as Iran is planning a speedy increase in oil output.
