TEHRAN- Daily production of Phase 11 of South Pars gas field will reach 56 million cubic meters (mcm) of gas, and 80,000 barrels of gas condensate, while completely operational. Phase 11 of South Pars, Iran’s largest and most challenging offshore gas project, has long faced delays due to technical and geopolitical complications. Its full development is key to boosting Iran’s domestic gas supply and export potential.

On January 5, the oil minister, while appreciating the tireless efforts of operational personnel in the South Pars region, said a new record has been set in the South Pars gas field, and the amount of gas extracted from this field has reached about 725 million cubic meters per day.

Mohsen Paknejad made the remarks on the sidelines of a visit to the gas platforms located in the South Pars field, on Monday, and while appreciating the efforts and activities of oil industry personnel working in this operational region, stated: “This region is the first link in the chain of gas production, processing, transmission, and distribution in the country. The employees of Pars Oil and Gas Company, through round-the-clock and difficult work in harsh conditions on the platforms, produce gas and deliver it to our compatriots so that homes remain warm, industry keeps turning, value is added in areas like petrochemicals, and other defined gas uses are supplied.”

Referring to the fact that over the past approximately 14 months, through the efforts of Pars Oil and Gas Company employees, 13 new wells have been drilled in the South Pars field, adding about 22 million cubic meters per day to the country's raw gas extraction, he said: “This amount of increase in extraction is considered a significant figure given the energy imbalance conditions we are facing.”

The minister continued: “Based on the plans made, it is predicted that by the end of this year (within the next two and a half months), about 4 more new wells will become operational as part of an in-field drilling plan. Considering these wells, the total increase in extraction from South Pars will reach about 30 million cubic meters per day.”

Pointing to the cold weather and severe drop in temperatures across the country and the increase in gas consumption in various sectors in recent days, Paknejad said: “Fortunately, under these very conditions, a new record has been set in the South Pars gas field, and the amount of gas extracted from this field has reached about 725 million cubic meters per day.”

Emphasizing that recording such a figure for gas extraction from the South Pars field is unprecedented compared to previous years, he added: “However, the gas imbalance amount increases during severe cold conditions. The reason for this imbalance is that with the drop in temperature and the increase in cold weather, gas consumption in the household, commercial, and specific industry sectors increases sharply. Naturally, under such conditions, other gas uses must be managed.”

Also as announced by the head of the South Pars Gas Complex (SPGC), gas processing plants at South Pars produced more than 174 million barrels of gas condensate in the first nine months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-December 21), reinforcing feedstock supplies for downstream facilities and supporting energy security,

Gholamabbas Hosseini said the output played a strategic role in supplying feedstock to the Persian Gulf Star refinery, describing condensate as a high value-added product with importance beyond direct exports.

He said rising condensate production in recent years had directly boosted revenues from the sale of by-products, while also strengthening supplies to downstream industries and refineries producing higher-value fuels.

Hosseini described the South Pars Gas Complex as the country’s largest natural gas processing hub, noting that it processes sour gas from the shared South Pars field through multiple refineries. He said the complex has a decisive role in supplying feedstock to petrochemical plants in the region and to the Persian Gulf Star refinery, which is regarded as the world’s largest gas condensate refinery.

The chief executive said the complex has relied on domestic expertise, development projects and modern technologies to increase production capacity and improve the stability of feedstock supplies.

“These measures have not only raised output but have also contributed to stronger energy security, economic growth and higher national value creation,” he said.

The South Pars field, shared between Iran and Qatar, is the world’s largest gas reservoir and a vital source of energy for domestic use, industries, and exports.

MA