MNA � An official said Iran has launched talks with France�s Total over making technical amendments to platform building yard of Bandar Abbas.


Head of Industrial Projects Management of Iran Company (IPMI) Hassan Bovairi said the development plan for South Pars Phases 17 and 18 was ready for official inauguration saying �presently, 44 subsea wells have been drilled and gas recovery has begun as well as that four offshore rigs each with a capacity of 500 million cubic feet have come on stream.�

The official pointed to operation of two 32-inch submarine pipelines each with a length of 110 kilometers stating �refineries of Phases 17 and 18 can now produce 50 million cubic meters of sweet gas per day as well as that units for extraction of gas condensate, sulfur, ethane and LPG have been launched.�

He went on to recall that gas desalination units of Phases 17 and 18 refineries had begun operation in January asserting �approximately 15.5 billion cubic meters of gas and over 15 million barrels of gas condensate have been so far produced at the two South Pars phases.�

Bovairi also reported on exports of 10 million barrels of gas condensate from Phases 17 and 18 adding �major destinations for the petroleum product include South and Southeast Asian countries like China, Japan and South Korea.�

IPMI managing director also referred to recovery of 400 thousand tons of ethane which have been delivered to petrochemical complexes situated in Asaluyeh recalling �so far about 8.1 billion dollars have been invested in the development plan for the two phases 2.2 billion dollars of which was funded by the Industrial Development & Renovation Organization of Iran (IDRO).�

He also underlined that produced materials at Phases 17 and 18 were worth about 2.5 billion dollars adding �main sources of delay in construction of the two South Pars phases were sanctions as well as first-time involvement of domestic companies in an oil industry megaproject.�

Hassan Bovairi also stressed that the development project for Phase 14 was 65% through adding �the new phase is scheduled to come on stream within two years.�

In response to a question on held talks with Total oil company for construction of gas compression rigs of Phase 11 in Bandar Abbas platform building yard, the official explained �experts at the French company have made a visit to the yard and conducted technical evaluations.�

He underscored that technical amendments were being made to Bandar Abbas platform building yard reiterating that �massive platform and high tonnage offshore gas compressors of South Pars Phase 11 will be manufactured in the southern country yard if technical issues are resolved.�