Gas extraction from the first platform of Phase 18 of South Pars gas field has commenced, director of phases 17 and 18 said, adding that the phase's output will be pumped to and processed in phases 15 and 16 refineries.
Hassan Buyeri said natural gas from Platform 18A will be pumped to Phases 15 and 16 refineries, following the increase in processing capacity of the two phases and the completion of drilling operations at Phase 18 wells, Shana news agency said in a report.
According to plans, Phase 18 output will reach approximately 15 million cubic meters(mcm) per day by the end of the week.
Buyeri said close to 20 mcm of gas from phases 6, 7 and 8 is now processed at phases 15 and 16 refineries every day, and the volume is expected to increase following the completion of platforms 18A and 17A in the SP gas field.
SP phases 17 and 18 are slated to produce 50 mcm of natural gas and 80,000 barrels of gas condensate per day, as well as one million tons of ethane, more than one million tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and 400 tons of sulfur per annum.
Earlier oil ministry officials had said the two phases will be officially launched this year and generate $5 million dollars a day. In addition, 60 percent of the equipment and facilities in phases 17 and 18 have been built by domestic manufacturers.
South Pars is the world’s largest gas field, shared between Iran and Qatar, covering an area of 3,700 square kilometers of Iran’s territorial waters in the Persian Gulf. It adjoins Qatar’s North Field, which measures 6,000 square kilometers.
