South Pars (Phase 15-16)

Location and Overview

The South Pars field is located in the Persian Gulf and is the northern extension of Qatar's North Field. It covers an area of approximately 500 square miles.

Development and Operators

Phases 15 and 16 of the South Pars field were developed by a consortium that included Iranian companies and international partners. Initially, the development was awarded to a consortium of Aker Kvaerner (Norway) and Iranian companies Ghorb and Sadra. However, the project was later transferred to Iran Shipbuilding & Offshore Industries Complex in July 2010.

Production Capacity

These phases are designed to produce approximately 2 billion cubic feet (57 million cubic metres) of natural gas per day. Additionally, they yield:

• 75 million cubic feet (2.1 million cubic metres) of ethane per day
• 80,000 barrels per day (13,000 m³/d) of natural gas condensate
• 3,000 tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) per day
• 400 tons of sulfur per day.

Drilling and Well Operations

The drilling operations for phases 15 and 16 were carried out by Dana Energy. Here are some key points:

• The PN3 rig was initially deployed for Phase 15, followed by the deployment of the Cosl Strike rig for Phase 16. However, the PN3 rig was withdrawn from Iranian waters due to sanctions.
• By February 2012, 7 wellbores were successfully completed in Phase 15, with 50% progress on the remaining 4 wellbores. In Phase 16, 11 wellbores were drilled and completed by June 2013.
• Perforation and cleaning operations were conducted using the Sina 1 and Karon 1 rigs, preparing 18 wells for production by November 2014.
• Dana Energy also performed simultaneous operations (SIMOPs) and pioneering rig-less operations, including Triple Operations (TRIOPS), to enhance production efficiency and safety.

Infrastructure and Platforms

The project involved the installation of Top Side production platforms. The platforms and associated infrastructure were critical for the commencement of gas and condensate production from the completed wellbores.

Completion and Production Start

Gas production from phases 15 and 16 began in January 2016, following the successful completion of drilling, well completion, and platform installation. The project was valued at approximately $2 billion and was 50% complete when transferred to Iran Shipbuilding & Offshore Industries Complex in 2010.

Challenges and Achievements

Despite facing challenges such as sanctions and technical issues, the project was completed successfully. Dana Energy's innovative approaches, such as SIMOPs and TRIOPS, were significant milestones in the project, ensuring efficient and safe operations.

In summary, phases 15 and 16 of the South Pars gas field represent a substantial contribution to Iran's natural gas and condensate production, with a focus on domestic consumption and export, and have been developed through a combination of international and local expertise.