TEHRAN Nov. 03 (Shana) � Iran raised crude oil recovery from Salman oil field in Persian Gulf waters by 3,500 b/d, operator of the field said.

Ebrahim Paksima, an official in charge of the oil field at Iran Offshore Oil Company (IOOC), told Shana that the boost has been possible by completion of gas injection to the field which took a fortnight during which IOOC staff worked 24/7.

Two drilling rigs are operating over the offshore field to spud new wells for injecting more gas to the field's reservoir.

Since the beginning of the current Iranian calendar year on March 21, crude oil recovery from Salman oilfield has raised by 12,000 bpd. The amount is estimated to grow at least 4,000 bpd by the year-end.

Located 144 km off Lavan Island in Persian Gulf, Salman Oilfield is being recovered by one of the largest facilities in the Persian Gulf.

Iran shares the field with UAE. In 1992, Iran pumped its first barrel of oil from the field.

By SHANA