Tehran, Aug 3, IRNA � Phase 21 of the supergiant South Pars gas field is 78% complete and its gas, after being refined, will be injected to national gas trunklines by winter to boost supply during the cold, the project manager of the phase said.

Alireza Ebadi said phases 20&21 of the gas field are prioritized over other phases by Iranian petroleum ministry.

He said the two phases will be fully operational by October 2016, Shana reported.

11 wells have been drilled at the phases of which 2 are becoming prepared for startup at Phase 21.

Furthermore, 7 wells at Phase 21 and 6 wells at Phase 20 will come on-stream by October 2015, Ebadi said.

Pars Oil and Gas Company (POGC) has awarded construction of offshore platforms of the phases to Iranian Offshore Engineering and Construction Company in Khoramashahr Yard.

The platforms are 81% complete and are expected to be transferred to their designated spots at the phases by October, said Ebadi.

Pars Oil and Gas Company has started underwater pipe-laying operations for the phases, he added.

Once completed the 105-km long pipelines will deliver sour gas recovered from the phases to the onshore refining facilities in Assaluyeh, south of Iran, said Ebadi.

Phases 20 and 21 of South Pars gas filed are being developed for production of 50mcm /d of processed natural gas for domestic consumption, a million tons a year of ethane for use by petrochemical plants, 1.05 million tons a year of high-quality liquefied gas for exports and 75,000 barrels a day of condensate.

South Pars, divided into 29 development phases, holds 40 tcm of natural gas, or 21% of world�s total gas reserves, and 50 billion barrels of condensate.

South Pars covers an area of 9,700 square kilometers, 3,700 square kilometers of which are in Iran�s territorial waters in the Persian Gulf. The remaining 6,000 square kilometers are situated in Qatar�s territorial waters.

The gas field is estimated to contain a significant amount of natural gas, accounting for about eight percent of the world�s reserves, and approximately 18 billion barrels of condensate.

By IRNA