Tehran, Iran, Dec.24
Trend:
The Managing Director of Pars Oil and Gas Company has announced some details of Total's bribing Iranian officials in 1997, alongside recent progress in different phases of South Pars gas field.
"The (bribery) issue occurred in 1997 and is related to Total's presence in Phase 2 and 3 of the South Pars field," Mohammad Moshkinfam said, Trend reports via ISNA.
"There is still no document over the issue, France is following the case and we still have not received any written document,” he added.
Total has been accused of paying $30 million, covered up as a "consultancy contract", to obtain a deal to develop the South Pars gas field in Iran.
Meanwhile, Iran continues negotiations with China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) regarding the South Pars field.
The Managing Director of Pars Oil and Gas Company has noted the development of phase 11 at the South Pas Field and Total's exit from the project.
"Total has announced it would leave, and according to the contract, Total's responsibilities would be transferred to CNPC," he said.
"A trilateral contract signed by Total, CNPC and Petro Pars that is in the final stage. There are news of CNPC intending to leave the contract, but so far the company has not officially announced anything to us," Moshkinfam said.
"By the end of the year (March 20, 2019), the situation with South Pars will be clarified. Total's documents have been transferred to CNPC,” he added.
"Total's plans and design to boost pressure would be at our disposal in 15 months. There are no documents from 2017 and in case CNPC leaves the contract, we would continue the work according to Total's documents,” said the official.
Moshkinfam said the gas production capacity at the South Pars has increased from 285 million cubic meters in 2013 to 600 million cubic meters in December 2018.
"The cumulative gas production from South Pars Gas Field has currently reached 1.348 BCM. The production capacities of South Pars would reach 85 million cubic meters per day. Four gas condensate reservoirs with capacity of 2 million barrel are in operation now," he said.
Moshkinfam also has announced about the oil recovery of 25,000 bpd from oil layers at South Pars field, adding the company is in talks to develop the layers.
“Ever since Maersk merged with Total, and due to presence of Total in Qatar, we have stopped negotiations with this company. Currently we are in negotiation with some Iranian companies,” he added, without revealing the companies.
Moshkinfam further said that a total of 13 plants are to operate in South Pars Gas Field at Asaluyeh, while five other plants would be completed by the end of the year in the Tombak region.