MNA – NIOC managing director, while rejecting the news on withdrawal of France’s Total from South Pars projects, said contracts will be soon inked with four oil giants.On disengagement of Total from development of South Pars Phase 11, Ali Kardor said a negotiating team from the French company has recently travelled to Tehran to pursue talks over contract and technical issues of the development project.

The official said authorities of Total oil company have emphasized their intention to continue oil and gas collaborations with Iran asserting “the French firm has already launched planning for construction of the first platform for Phase 11 in South Pars join gas field.”

Deputy Iranian oil minister reiterated that no sign exited as to Total’s retreat from development of the gas phase asserting “Total has even selected Petropars company as its Iranian partner for construction of offshore facilities in Phase 11.”

NIOC managing director went on to report on reaching final agreement with four giant oil companies for expansion of four large Iranian oil and gas fields.

“So far, agreements have been reached with Maersk of Denmark for development of South Pars oil layer, Russia’s Lukoil to develop and increase recovery factor of Mansouri and Ab Teimour oilfields, Germany’s Wintershall Holding GmbH for expansion of four western oil fields as well as France’s Total for South Pars Phase 11,” highlighted the official stressing that final contracts will be soon inked with the four crude oil giants.

In a related story, Ali Kardor met and talked with Wang Yupu, Chairman of the Board of Directors of China’s Sinopec, on Saturday evening. The Chinese corporation is the contractor for the first development phase of Yadavaran oilfield.

During the meeting, Iran’s deputy oil minister said NIOC would give priority to signing deals within framework on new Iranian Petroleum Contracts (IPCs) saying “as per development of joint oil and gas fields, Iran’s priorities include boosting recovery from reservoirs as well as use and transfer of up-to-date know-how.”

Ali Kardor, while pointing to imminent holding of the first international oil tender for development of South Azadegan field, invited Sinopec to participate in the event stating “as such, foreign companies are required to form a working group in line with studying target Iranian oil and gas fields.”

Sinopec Head Wang Yupu, for his part, referred to his company’s access to state-of-the-art technology in upstream, downstream, refining and petrochemical sectors as well as its unique merits in marine transport. He later underscored that Sinopec (China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation) was ready to bolster oil relations with Iran.

The visiting official went on to maintain that Sinopec would support Iran’s oil industry as regards attraction of modern oilfield management techniques in addition to present-day technical knowledge “since we are currently enjoying ideal conditions both financially and in the field of human resources.”