SP Phases 17, 18 Set for Official Launch

In line with plans to raise gas production capacity, phases 17 and 18 of South Pars Gas Field in the Persian Gulf are ready to be commissioned officially, Mansour Moazzami, CEO of Iran's Industrial Development and Renovation Organization (IDRO) said on Friday.

The two phases, which are already in operation, have a gas production capacity of 50 million cubic meters per day, Moazzami said, ILNA reported.

The government of President Hassan Rouhani made it a target to start gas production from the huge South Pars fields before engaging in ribbon-cutting ceremonies.

The president officially inaugurated South Pars phases 15 and 16 late last year as the two phases were already in production.

South Pars is the world's largest gas field shared by 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 around 6,000 square kilometers.

Moazzami said South Pars development is the fruit of expanding the domestic petroleum industry. “The Oil Ministry has drawn on domestic manufacturers' capacity, which shows why the majority of oil equipment is being indigenized."

"Compared to 15 years ago when crucial machinery and equipment was mostly imported, now 40% of the oil equipment is bought from international firms," Moazzami noted, adding that the figure can be reduced further with the help of domestic talents.

  Phase 14 Development

According to Morteza Zarringol, director of the Phase 14, completion of the phase and taking measures to accelerate gas extraction from its offshore platforms top the National Iranian Oil Company's list of priorities.

Referring to the total 44 wells to be drilled in the phase, Zaringol said plans have been made to complete platforms 14A and 14C with maximum production capacity from 22 wells.

"When operational, they will be able to supply gas to other refineries under construction at the site," Zarringol noted.

Regarding offshore pipe laying operation, the official said, "All equipment to lay a 105-kilometer pipeline have been dispatched to the site and work is due to start soon. Financial constraints notwithstanding, onshore pipe-laying operation was undertaken and Phase 14 onshore refinery has made 61% physical progress."

Phase 14 is slated to produce 56 million cubic meters of gas and 75,000 barrels of gas condensates per year to meet domestic gas demand and supply feedstock to petrochemical units in the Pars Special Energy Economic Zone in the southern Bushehr Province.

A consortium of Iranian companies is working on Phase 14, including the Iranian Offshore Engineering and Construction Company, Industrial Development and Renovation Organization, National Iranian Drilling Company and Iran Shipbuilding and Offshore Industries Complex Company.