“The new platform (SPD 23) has increased the field’s output by 14 million cubic meters per day,” Aliasghar Sadeqi was quoted as saying by IRNA.
Production in the giant field now is 658 mcm/d -- up 7% compared to October 2019, Financial Tribune reported.
“The rig produces 100 tons of sulfur and 20,000 barrels of condensates a day,” he said, adding that it also helps process 250,000 tons of liquefied gas and 250,000 tons of ethane per annum.
The 2,500 ton deck, constructed by the Iran Marine Industrial Company (Sadra), was moved to the designated offshore spot in October.
Iranian engineers designed and built the deck and local companies supplied 60% of the equipment for the huge structure.
Referring to the satellite rig 24B, which was installed in November, he noted that hook up operations will be completed in February and the platform will start injecting 14 mcm of gas per day into IGAT in March.
As other phases (14, 22, 23 and 24) gradually go on stream, Iran is expected to produce 750 million cubic meters of natural gas from South Pars by March 2021.
Phase 14
The third offshore deck of Phase 14 started gas production late last month and added 14 mcm/d to the output.
Referring to the fourth and last deck of the phase, the official said the platform, which has made 92% progress, is being constructed at Sadra yard in Bushehr Province. It will be completed and installed by March.
Phase 14 onshore facilities, namely processing trains, sulfur recycling plants and gas injection units linked to Iran’s Gas Trunkline, are operational.
The phase has four decks (14B, 14D and two satellite platforms), of which three are operating.
SP is divided into 24 phases in the first stage. Most of the phases are now operational.
The field, which Iran shares with Qatar, covers an area of 9,700 square kilometers, 3,700 square kilometers of which (South Pars) are in Iran’s territorial waters. The remaining 6,000 square kilometers (North Dome) is in Qatari territorial waters.
The field is estimated to contain large deposits of natural gas, accounting for almost 8% of the world’s reserves, and approximately18 billion barrels of condensates.