Iran plans to maintain its daily gas output of 1 million cubic meters from the Gonbadli Gas Field along Iran's border with Turkmenistan, managing director of Iranian Central Oil Fields Company said.
Referring to the fact that maintaining production levels of the country's oil and gas fields is subject to the rate of energy in their reservoirs, Salbali Karimi said by taking a wide range of measures, the company has managed to sustain the gas field's output.
Mohammad Mam-Beigi, technical manager of East Oil and Gas Company, recently said that in the past two years, 100% of the field's production capacity has been exploited for the first time in its history.
"Two decades ago, Gonbadli gas field was on the verge of stopping production because of its declining pressure, but with the implementation of technical plans and contribution of Shahid Hasheminejad Gas Processing Company, the field was revived and continued production," he added.
Mam-Beigi revealed the company's plan to drill new wells in the joint field in the next Iranian year (to start on March 20) and said by establishing gas processing infrastructure, the output will be delivered to local people.
In the best-case scenario, 1.1 million cubic meters of natural gas can be produced from Gonbadli field's three active wells. According to projections, the field's extractable gas reserves is 7.8 billion cubic meters, 91% of which have been exploited until 2005.
Gas Talks With European Union
Azizollah Ramezani, National Iranian Gas Company's director for international affairs, also said Iran welcomes gas export negotiations with European Union officials, adding that the Persian Gulf country is capable of meeting Europe's gas demand.
"Sitting on the largest reserve of natural gas in the world, Iran has the potential to supply gas to different countries," he said.
European Climate and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete said on Sunday the European Commission will undertake a first "technical assessment mission" in February to explore energy ties with Iran following the lifting of international sanctions.
An EU official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said some 15 EU representatives would go on the initial four-day technical visit and after that, a high-level commission staff, possibly with a business delegation, would travel to Iran.
Arias Canete said potential areas for cooperation included all energy sectors—nuclear, oil, gas, renewable energy and energy efficiency. Underscoring Iran's intention not to limit its gas exports to regional countries, Ramezani said exports to other countries, particularly EU member-states, should be on the country's agenda.
"Different gas transfer routes to Europe have until now been considered, including via the Black Sea, Iraq and Syria, Turkey and through pipeline," he said.
"In addition to economic benefits, gas export to Europe will also give rise to a wide range of positive international results."
Ramezani underlined the policy of diversifying export markets in the post-sanctions period and said the lower cost of gas production in Iran is a boon to Iran-Europe gas export.
