Offshore staff

TEHRAN – Production from the Balal oil field in the Persian Gulf is heading toward 40,000 b/d, according to a report by Iranian news service Shana.

Mahmoud Zirkachianazade, managing director of National Iranian Offshore Oil Co. (NIOOC), told Shana the company had further plans to extract 6 tcf from the field under a second development phase.

The Balal gas layer is a continuation of the eastern part of the giant South Pars field. Balal’s recoverable gas condensates are estimated at 183 MMbbl.

Balal’s platform was designed to process 40,000 b/d of oil and 33,000 b/d of water for three years. Currently oil production is at 30,000 b/d, but it should recover to 40,000 b/d following installation of downhole pumps and repairs to the producer wells.

The field was originally developed under Iran’s buyback arrangement by a consortium including Elf and Agip. It has been in production for a decade.

The oil is sent to Lavan Island through a 100-km (62-mi), 14-in. (35.6-cm) pipeline, where it is exported following blending with oil from the Salman field.

08/15/2011