Iran commissions sour gas pipeline in Persian Gulf

May 15, 2012
Iranian Offshore Engineering and Construction Co. (IOEC) expects first gas deliveries in September through a new pipeline in the Persian Gulf.

Offshore staff

TEHRAN, Iran – Iranian Offshore Engineering and Construction Co. (IOEC) expects first gas deliveries in September through a new pipeline in the Persian Gulf.

The 290-km (180-mi), 32-in. (81-cm) pipeline will take 500 MMcf/d of sour gas from theSalman offshore field to the onshore plant at Assaluyeh for sweetening.

According to acting managing director Amir-Saeid Najafi, final tests are in progress, including injection of nitrogen gas.

IOEC is building and installing two gas pipelines, two jackets, and two decks for theSouth Pars field phases 19, 20, and 21, as well as drilling 22 wells for Phase 14.

On the Iranian southern coast of the Caspian Sea, Iranian Oil Terminals Co. (IOTC) is building new oil storage facilities at Neka port. The company has also invited bids to construct three 150,000-bbl oil storage tanks.

Managing Director Seyyed Pirouz Mousavi told Iranian news service Shana Iran has signed oil “swap” contracts with littoral states of the Caspian Sea, which involves taking oil from Caspian fields to Neka, and delivering equivalent quantities from Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf.

IOTC is handling 20,000 b/d of swapped oil, but the aim is to increase capacity at Neka to 1.5 MMb/d, in part by expanding berthing facilities to accommodate larger vessels. Dredging operations for this program will start shortly.

5/15/2012