The drilling operation for the 14th phase of the South Pars gas field will be launched this week, Pars Oil and Gas Company has announced, Press TV reported with reference to the official website of the Iranian Oil Ministry Shana.
The drilling of the first well of the phase is scheduled to start this week, which is three months earlier than the previous planning, the operating manager of the phase 14, Esmaeil Galledari, said.
The official noted that a total of 44 appraisal wells - used to assess characteristics of a proven hydrocarbon accumulation - will be drilled in this phase of the South Pars.
Iran has 137.6 billion barrels of proven oil reserves and 29.61 trillion cubic meters of proven gas reserves, ranking third in the world in oil reserves and second in gas reserves.
The South Pars gas field is located in the Persian Gulf in the border zone between Iran and Qatar. The field's reserves are estimated at 14 trillion cubic meters of gas and 18 billion barrels of gas condensates. The South Pars field covers an area of 3,700 square kilometers.
The process of developing gas production projects in the South Pars Special Economic Energy Zone is divided into 28 phases, which will officially come on stream in 35 months.