Two new gas operations from South Pars will come on stream in October after Iran completes development of another section of the world’s largest gas field, its oil minister said on Tuesday.
Phases 15 and 16 are close to starting production and will be inaugurated by President Hassan Rouhani in October, Iranian Oil Minister, Bijan Zangeneh, said at a news conference, according to Shana news agency.
The two phases are expected to have a combined capacity of 1.7bn cubic feet a day (bcfd) within a month, Shana reported, and will also produce 75,000 barrels per day of gas condensate.
Khatam al-Anbia, the engineering arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, won the tendering for phases 15 and 16 of South Pars in 2005, according to the news agency.
One official said in July that gas production in Iran’s South Pars field has reached 440 million cubic metres (mcm) per day.
The managing director of Pars Special Economic Energy Zone also indicated that the field would increase output to 800 mcm in the near future.
In comments carried by Iran’s national news agency (IRNA) Mehdi Yousefi said: “SP gas field is unique in the world. It accounts for 8% and 50% of the global gas production and Iran’s gas reserves, respectively.
“Gas output has increased 35% in the past 18 months thanks to the efforts of the government. Currently, the field produces 440 mcm of gas.
“The figure is expected to reach 800 mcm per day in the near future.”
Currently, 25 petrochemical complexes are operating in the South Pars, which indicates a sustainable growth in the field’s gas output, he added.
