The agreement was signed in the presence of Jean Burrus, chairman and CEO of Beicip-Franlab, Jafar Tofiqi, the head of RIPI, Mansour Bazmi, RIPI's deputy director for technology and international relations, and Touraj Behrouz, the head of RIPI's department in Tehran, on Wednesday, ISNA reported.
"The French petroleum consultancy firm will provide RIPI with best-in-class consultancy and software solutions in geophysics processing, exploration, reservoir and field development as well as production optimization and process optimization techniques," Behrouz said on the sidelines of the signing ceremony.
According to the official, RIPI and the Iranian Central Oil Fields Company have been tasked with developing Homa Gas Field, but because the hydrocarbon reservoir is fractured and produces water, the two firms decided to collaborate with a foreign partner to address the serious challenge, Financial Tribune reported.
Pointing to the importance of technology transfer to maximize output level from the massive oil and gas reserves, the official added that the MoU was concluded in line with policies to enhance the capabilities of domestic experts.
Stressing that the French company was chosen from among a list of international enterprises, Behrouz said Beicip-Franlab has approved all technical terms in the deal to offer consulting services, software solutions, technical assistance and advisory services.
"It is not just a mutual cooperation to conduct studies on a gas field," he said, adding that the venture is highly sensitive and all the procedures must be undertaken with high precision so that the field's water leak can be effectively controlled and a comprehensive plan can be devised to expand the reservoir," he said.
Being located in Fars Province, Homa Gas Field in Parsian operational region managed by South Zagros Oil and Gas Production Company is one of the suppliers of Parsian gas refinery. The field containing 16 wells is equipped with monitoring systems to reduce cost and promote production security and well management.
South Zagros Development
According to Salbali Karimi, chief executive of ICOFC, plans call for developing six gas fields in south Zagros region.
"The development of six gas fields, namely Sefid Zakhour, Halgan, Dey, Tang Bijar, Madar and Khar-Tang, all located in the western and central regions, is high on the priority list," Karimi noted, adding that natural gas production capacity in the central regions stands at 300 million cubic meters per day, though the exact volume of output is unclear.
"Plans are alsoin place to attract investment via engineering procurement, construction and financing contracts to increase recovery rate in other gas fields, including Tabnak, Shanoul and Homa," he added.