BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 20
By Elnur Baghishov – Trend:
Iran is drilling wells in order to explore gas in the Gorgan county of Golestan Province (northeastern Iran) and to explore oil in the Mugan plain in Ardabil Province (northwestern Iran), Head of the exploration department of National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) Saleh Hendi said, Trend reports referring to the company’s official website
Hendi noted that as Asaluyeh county of Bushehr Province is far from the north-east of the country, if gas is explored in northeastern Iran, new gas prospects will open up in this part of the country.
The official added that if the oil field is discovered, it will also be of great importance, given the difficulty on the transportation of crude oil from southern Iran to the Tabriz Oil Refining Company in the East Azerbaijan Province (northeastern Iran).
Iran has a total of 125 oil fields and 59 gas fields. The country's total hydrocarbon reserves are estimated at 836 billion barrels. With available technology and equipment, Iran can extract 239 billion barrels. Thus, 29 percent of the country's hydrocarbon reserves are recoverable, while 71 percent remain underground.