South Pars (Phase 17-18)

South Pars Gas Field - Phases 17 and 18 Profile

Location and Geology

• The South Pars gas field is located in the Persian Gulf, and Phases 17 and 18 are part of the larger South Pars/North Dome field, which is the northern extension of Qatar's giant North Field. The field is situated 3,000 meters below the seabed at a water depth of 65 meters.

Ownership and Operation

• The South Pars gas field, including Phases 17 and 18, is owned by the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC). The development and operation of these phases are managed by Pars Oil and Gas Company (POGC), a subsidiary of NIOC.

Development and Contractors

• The development of Phases 17 and 18 was awarded to a consortium consisting of the Offshore Industries Engineering and Construction Company (OIEC), the Industrial Development and Renovation Organization (IDRO), and the Iran Offshore Engineering and Construction Company (IOEC).

Production Details

• Phases 17 and 18 are designed to produce 2 million million standard cubic feet per day (MMMSCFD) of natural gas, which is approximately 57 million cubic meters per day. Additionally, these phases produce 80,000 barrels per day of gas condensate, 75 million cubic feet (2.1 million cubic meters) of ethane, 3,000 tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) per day, and 400 tons of sulfur per day.

Infrastructure and Facilities

• The onshore refinery for these phases was designed and constructed by OIEC and IDRO. The facilities include the supply of treated lean gas to the domestic network and ethane gas to nearby petrochemical complexes. The development involves the construction of offshore and onshore facilities, including pipelines and platforms.

Production Timeline and Reserves

• Phases 17 and 18 were officially commissioned in April 2017. As of the latest data, these phases have recovered 34.01% of their total recoverable reserves. Peak production is expected in 2024, and production is anticipated to continue until the field reaches its economic limit in 2050.

Current Status and Future Plans

• Currently, these phases account for approximately 5% of Iran's daily gas output. To counter production declines, new drilling operations are planned, including the drilling of new wells from existing platforms. However, these new drilling plans are part of the broader South Pars field development and not specifically limited to Phases 17 and 18.

Economic and Strategic Importance

• The South Pars gas field, including Phases 17 and 18, is crucial for Iran's energy sector, contributing significantly to the country's natural gas production. The field is part of Iran's strategy to maximize its gas reserves, which account for 10% of the world’s total gas reserves.