He said 3-D operations in Tandis region located West of Karoun region near the border with Iraq was approved last year and will be executed this year.  

He continued 3-D seismic operations in Minoo region have yet to be approved by NIOC, adding the company has entered into talks with a foreign company to do the job on behalf of NIOC.

Ghalavand said: "In case of lacking financial resources, a foreign company can carry out seismic studies and NIOC will pay the cost two years later."

Reflection seismology (or seismic reflection) is a method of exploration geophysics that uses the principles of seismology to estimate the properties of the Earth's subsurface from reflected seismic waves. The method requires a controlled seismic source of energy, such as dynamite/Tovex, a specialized air gun or a seismic vibrator.