Subsea power cable added at the Nowruz field offshore Iran

Iranian Offshore Oil Co. (IOOC) has reportedly increased oil production from the Nowruz field in the Persian Gulf by 1,500 b/d.

According to a press release of September 9, issued by news service Shana, it follows completion of a new 2-km subsea power cable between the Nowruz field wells and wellhead platforms.

Amir Baghlani, head of planning and coordination for port, marine and transportation operations at IOOC, said that normally for this type of installation, a vessel with a DP system would be deployed. But sanctions against Iran prevented a direct satellite link.

In response, domestic companies designed a portable signal receiver so that the vessel could receive DGPS signals from a satellite. The device was connected to the vessel's DP console, allowing the cable to be laid along the planned route without deviation.

The operation was needed in order to provide power for subsea pumps for several wells, thereby boosting production. Baghlani told Shana that DP-equipped cable-lay vessels area also scarce and expensive in Iran.

The company therefore commissioned modifications to a standard vessel, including installation of a cable pulley and portable signalling equipment. The operation began after receiving technical approvals.

Another Shana report of September 9 stated that Pars Oil and Gas Company (POGC) had commissioned the ninth well at the Phase 11 development of the South Pars gas field, raising the phase’s rich gas production capacity above 22 MMcm/d.

POGC CEO Touraj Dehqani said the SPD11B-09 well has undergone perforation and acidizing operations at the SPD11B platform.

As of late July, he added, the Phase 11 wells had produced a cumulative 370 bcf of gas.