TEHRAN - Drilling operations in Foruzan and Esfandiar oil fields ended last month. However, due to some unwanted delays the development plan of the oil fields is expected to be completed in May 2007, noted the managing director of Petroiran Development Co.

Referring to the development of Salman Gas Field Mostafa Khoyi said, the project is 87 percent complete already and the only part remained is the offshore section of the project. Sadra Company, in charge of completing most of the remaining work is expected to finish the job within the next few months, he stated.

The oil-associated natural gases collected from Salman Oil Field will be used after the Dalan and Kangan gas fields become operational, he commented.

The development projects on Foruzan and Esfandiar oil fields aimed at boosting their productions from the current 70,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 100,000 bpd will include drilling new oil wells by making use of the modern technologies, laying a 24-inch gas pipeline to convey the natural gas from Foruzan field to the Kharg Island, providing a 16-inch natural gas pipeline to carry the gas from the two platforms in the region, building four 8-inch pipes to monitor the crude oil production from the wells, preparing eight gas pipelines for injecting the natural gas into the oil wells as well as a 17.2-kilometer cable to connect the two production platforms in Foruzan field, the Persian service of Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) said on Tuesday.