Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 18 / Trend A.Badalova /
According to BP, proven gas reserves in Iran as of early 2010, amounted to 29.61 trillion cubic meters, or 15.8 percent of the total proven world reserves. In 2009, gas production in Iran amounted to 131.2 billion cubic meters or 13.1 percent more than production in 2008. Demand for gas in Iran in 2009 amounted to 131.7 billion cubic meters or 10.7 percent more than demand in 2008.
South Pars
The large offshore gas field South Pars was discovered in 1990. The deposit is located in the central part of the Persian Gulf in the territorial border of Iran and Qatar. The field's area is 3,700 square kilometers. The reserves on the Iranian part of the deposit are estimated at 14 trillion cubic meters. Pars Oil and Gas, a subsidiary of the Iranian National Oil Company is the operator of field development.
The development of South Pars includes 28 phases for the extraction of 650 million cubic meters of gas per day.
Earlier foreign companies were engaged in the development of most phases of this field. However, the companies abandoned the project due to sanctions imposed against Iran by the UN, U.S. and European countries.
Project status
In July 2010, gas production on 0 phases of the South Pars field amounted to about 210 million cubic meters per day. Gas produced from the field is used for internal needs and exported abroad.
In November, the National Bank of Iran "Mellat" sold bonds worth 250 million euros for the field development plan. The plan envisages four stages, offering bonds for a total sum of one billion euro, designed to support the financing of 15-18 phases of the South Pars field.
In 2011, Iran is expected to launch four new joint phases on the gas extraction from the South Pars field, due to which the country's gas production is expected to increase by 100 million cubic meters per day.
The gas production on phases 15, 16, 17 and 18 of the South Pars field is planned to be launched by 2011. Then, gas production will be launched on 12th phase.
Iran intends to implement the remaining phases over the next three years.
Pipelines
Baku-Bind-Biand
The 1,474.5-kilometer Gazi-Magomed-Actara-Bind-Biand gas pipeline connects Azerbaijan and Iran, including the territory of Azerbaijan - 296.5 kilometers.
This route is a branch of the Gazakh-Astara-Iran pipeline, which was put into operation in 1971. Three compressor stations were built in Gazi-Magomed, Agdash and Gazakh.. The pipe's diameter is 1,200 millimeters.
At present, the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) is expanding the capacity of the gas compressor station in Astara to increase gas supplies to Iran. Also it is envisaged to reconstruct gas pipeline from Azerbaijan to Iran. After completion of these works it is envisaged to sign a contract for long-term supplies and increase the amounts to 3-3.5 million cubic meters per day from the current 1.2 million cubic meters.
At present, within swap operations to meet the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic's needs SOCAR daily exports 1.1-1.2 million cubic meters of gas to Iran.
Peace Pipeline (Iran-Pakistan-India)
The planned Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, worth $7.6 billion, envisages transportation of Iranian gas to Asia.
The initial capacity of pipeline will be 22 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year. Pipeline capacity can reach 55 billion cubic meters per year.
The estimated length of the pipeline is 2,700 kilometers, including 1.100 kilometers on the territory of Iran, 1.000 km - Pakistan and 600 km -India. The pipe's diameter will be 1,400 millimeters, but in case of India's refusal to participate in the project, the figure will be 1,050 mm.
In 2008, India announced its withdrawal from the project, citing the reasons for the need to resolve the question of the gas transit price with Pakistan to fully participate in the gas project.
In October 2010, Russia refused to participate in the gas pipeline project.
Construction of the pipeline was to begin, in accordance with an agreement, in mid-2010 and continue for approximately five years.
Iran has already built 900 km pipeline with a diameter of 56 inches from the Asalue gas processing plant to the Iranshahr city. The piple shuld be extended for another 250 kilometers to the border with Pakistan.
Signing of the final contract on the Iranian gas supply to Pakistan scheduled for spring 2014.
Turkmenistan-Iran
The capacity of the pipeline Korpedzhe-Kurt-Kui, put into operation in December 1995, has been brought up to 8 billion cubic meters a year.
The Iranian National Gas Export Company buys gas. There is potential to increase pipeline capacity up to 14 billion cubic meters.
The new branch of the Turkmenistan-Iran - Dovletabad-Sarahs gas pipeline was commissioned in January 2010. The branch begins from the Dovletabad field through Sarahs to Hangeran (Iran). The capacity hits up to 6 billion cubic meters a year.
The new branch, taking into account the existing capacities, allows increasing volumes of gas supplies from Turkmenistan to Iran up to 20 billion cubic meters annually.
Iran-Turkey
Iran and Turkey signed an agreement to build a new gas pipeline to transport Iranian gas in July 2010.
The cost of the pipeline, stretching about 660 kilometers from the Iranian city of Miyandoab to Bazargan checkpoint, will hit 1 billion euros.
The diameter of the new pipeline will be 56 inches. The construction work will be completed in 2014.
It is expected that the pipeline will have the capacity of transporting 110 million cubic meters of gas per day.