ASSALUYEH (IRNA) -- Director of the project on development of phases 9 and 10 of South Pars gas field south of Iran Morteza Emami said on Monday that gas needed for the two phases is obtained from 24 3,500-meter-deep wells in the Persian Gulf.

Emami told reporters on the sidelines of a ceremony to install platform for SP Phase 9 that gas needed for phases 9 and 10 is transferred to a nearby refinery by two 32-inch pipelines.
He added that initial contract on the platforms was worth 187 million dollars but it would increase to between 250-260 million dollars if extra charges and certain changes made in the project are taken into consideration.
The official emphasized that construction of platform for the facility would be much cheaper by Iranian contractors, given that the cost of its manufacture is not less than 450 million dollars on the international markets.
He said the platforms were built in 27 months, which set a record in implementing a project in South Pars gas field.
He added that with the completion of the platform installation, the physical progress in the sector has reached 94 percent.
In the next two days the whole platform installation for the phase will be completed and the remaining part of the project, including laying pipes on the wellhead and connection of the exit pipe of platforms to a 32-inch pipe will be accomplished in 45 days, said Emami.
The official noted that operations for laying 32-inch pipelines for transfer of gas from tanker to refinery have been carried out successfully and workers are now busy joining the two pipelines to refinery on Assaluyeh coastline.
He said there are efforts underway to complete the desalination units as soon as possible.
Putting physical progress in phases 9 and 10 at 83 percent, Emami said drilling operations will be stopped until end of installation operations. He predicted that Phase 9 will be ready for operation in spring and the Phase 10 will be commissioned a short time later.
The platform installation for SP phases 9 and 10 started as of Monday on Assaluyeh coastline in the Persian Gulf.