Meanwhile the National Iranian Oil Company’s (NIOC) reports show that additional gas extraction from South Pars gas field will go up further, reaching 120 mcm/d before the year-end on March 20 2015. Realization of this amount of gas extraction during the period has been unprecedented in Iran’s oil history.
NIOC intends to raise gas extraction from the giant gas field by another 100 mcm in next Iranian calendar year, as of March 21 2015.
Approximately 96 percent of cities and 60 percent of rural areas of Iran have access to natural gas. Furthermore natural gas makes up 70 percent of Iran’s basket of energy.
Last year in winter the country faced 160 mcm/d of gas shortage but starting gas withdrawal from phases 12, 15&16 and 17&18 has reduced gas shortage to the lowest possible level.
Rising gas production from South Pars also has ended to suspension of gas delivery to power plants in winter. Last year gas shortage in winter forced NIOC to cut gas delivery to 20 power plants across the country. Gas shortage in winter also forced Petroleum Ministry to suspend gas delivery to petrochemical plants for 50 straight days which inflicted huge losses to the sector.
But rising gas production this year has enabled continuation of gas supply to power plants, industries and CNG stations so far this winter which is expected to be continued without any disruption this winter.
Also it is expected that gas exports will be continued this winter without any problem which was routine last years in winter due to falling pressure in gas pipelines.
South Pars gas field not only provides half of gas needs of the country but part of the gas is needed for injection to oil fields for enhancing recovery rate. In addition the gas field yeilds valuable products for exports to world markets and plays a valuable role in trade balance of the country.
Mounting the share of domestically manufactured products and providing up to 70 percent of oil industry needs to parts and equipment by domestic manufacturers are other achievements of development plan of South Pars gas field.
South Pars gas field lies 105 km south of Iran in the Persian gulf waters. As the largest independent gas field in the world, South Pars gas field is shared by Iran and Qatar.
Gas reserves of South Pars gas field is estimated at 40 tcm, accounting for 21 percent of the world gas reserves.
Pars Oil And Gas Company (POGC) which is in charge of development of the giant gas field plans to raise gas extraction from the gas field to 1 bcm/d and gas condensate to one million barrels per day equivalent to 7.5 million barrels of oil per day in the future.
Production of 5 thousand tons of sulfur per day as well as 10.5 million tons of ethane and 12 million tons of LPG are the other targets of development plan of the mega gas field.
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