TEHRAN (Iran News) – Iranian technicians and engineers have successfully installed another offshore drilling rig in the Persian Gulf waters as the country keeps expanding crude production despite lower sales.
Platform 8 was the first of two new rigs planned for Hendijan oilfield, located to the west of the Persian Gulf, where Iran has some key offshore oil reserves, according to Press TV.
The 1,000-ton structure has been fully designed and manufactured inside Iran and installation operation was carried out using domestic expertise, said a report by Oil Ministry’s energy news service Shana.
Production from Hendijan oilfield would increase by 20,000 barrels per day once Platform 7 is installed next week, said the report, adding that the oil rigs would also improve the safety of production while they would allow the use of gas lift and water injection techniques for improved production from the oilfield.
Iran has continued to develop its massive oil and gas sector despite American sanctions that have caused a decline in normal exports.
Expansion activities have continued even at a time of lower international demand for crude that has come as a result of the spread of the new coronavirus pandemic around the world.
Authorities say higher production would meet growing domestic demand while it would ensure a quick return to international markets once foreign pressures are eased.
The Oil Ministry has contracted several Iranian companies for manufacturing supersize drilling rigs to avoid any halt to development projects in the Persian Gulf.
The government says those platforms have been key to nearly a triple increase in gas production in the South Pars gas filed in less than seven years.
- source : Iran Daily
