TEHRAN — Iranian Central Oil Fields Company plans to increase natural gas production by about 12 billion cubic meters in the Iranian calendar year 1405, building on a year in which it exceeded its gas production target and set a new record for gas storage, the company’s production director said.
Ali Rezaei said the company achieved 103.35% of its gas production target in 1404, after accounting for mandated production reductions, while crude oil production reached 99.51% of its target.
The company also stored a combined 3.1 billion cubic meters of natural gas at the Shourijeh D and Sarajeh Qom strategic storage facilities, marking a record level for gas storage operations under the National Iranian Oil Company, Rezaei said.
The ICOFC, a subsidiary of NIOC, operates dozens of oil and gas fields across a broad area of Iran, stretching from Khorasan Razavi province in the northeast to Bushehr and Hormozgan provinces in the south. It also operates the Shourijeh D and Sarajeh storage facilities, which inject gas during warmer months and supply it to the network during periods of high winter demand.
Rezaei said maintaining output from mature fields remains one of the company’s main priorities, requiring extensive overhaul, well intervention and preventive maintenance programs.
The geographic spread of the company’s operations presents a major logistical challenge, particularly in moving drilling rigs, specialized equipment and heavy machinery between widely separated production sites.
In 1404, South Zagros Oil and Gas Production Company carried out 197 days of major maintenance operations involving more than 284,000 man-hours of work. East Oil and Gas Production Company completed 48 days of maintenance, involving 23,838 man-hours, while West Oil and Gas Production Company conducted 59 days of maintenance involving more than 83,000 man-hours.
In total, 304 days of scheduled major maintenance were completed without delays, Rezaei said. He added that the operations were completed without accidents while complying with safety requirements.
Maintenance programs are being continued in 1405. Overhauls at the Kheirgo separation center and Central Khangiran gathering center have been completed, while several other projects are scheduled through the end of September.
The company also plans an intelligent pigging operation on the Tabnak field-to-Parsian refinery gas transmission pipeline to identify potential defects before the start of the cold season.
Rezaei said the company is expanding the use of digital systems and smart technologies to shift maintenance from a reactive approach toward predictive and preventive management.
A comprehensive computerized maintenance management system, or CMMS, is being developed for deployment across the company’s operating subsidiaries. The project is currently at the consultant selection and tendering stage.
A comprehensive pipeline management system will also be piloted at South Zagros Oil and Gas Production Company. Data from intelligent pigging and other technical inspections will be integrated to continuously assess pipeline integrity and determine when preventive maintenance is required.
The company also plans to establish a monitoring center capable of providing real-time production information, management dashboards, performance indicators and maintenance data.
Geographic information systems, process safety management and artificial intelligence applications are also among the technologies being pursued as part of the company’s digital transformation.
Gas compression facilities are playing an increasingly important role in maintaining production as reservoir pressure declines in mature fields.
Rezaei said the launch of the Varavi gas compression station significantly increased output from the field. Production had fallen to about 5 million cubic meters per day because of natural reservoir pressure decline.
Following installation of the compression facilities, output has risen to about 9 million cubic meters per day.
The Homa field compression station is also nearing completion and is scheduled to come online in the second half of the year. The project is expected to add about 5.5 million cubic meters per day to Iran’s gas production capacity.
Development of new fields remains another pillar of the company’s strategy to increase output and help reduce Iran’s gas imbalance.
The Tous gas field began production last year, with further development planned. In the Khartang field, two wells were brought into production despite difficult operating conditions during the 12-day war, while work continues on completing additional wells.
Rezaei said new fields would not only increase production but also contribute to energy security, economic value creation and efforts to narrow the gap between gas supply and demand.
The company’s target for 1405 is to maintain production stability while meeting its higher commitments, supported by major maintenance, well interventions, digital monitoring and development projects.
Nearly all maintenance, production-support and operational activities are being carried out using domestic technical capabilities, Rezaei said.
The company has increasingly relied on local specialists, younger engineers and knowledge-based companies to develop technologies and address operational requirements without relying on foreign suppliers.
“This approach has enabled maintenance and production-support programs to proceed according to plan,” Rezaei said, adding that the company intends to continue expanding its reliance on domestic capabilities.
The company is also pursuing projects to capture associated gas that would otherwise be burned at flares, both to reduce environmental impacts and recover valuable energy resources.
Major projects include gas gathering facilities at Cheshmeh Khosh and Dehloran and projects designed to supply feedstock to the NGL 3100 complex.
Gas flare recovery projects at the Sarvestan and Saadatabad fields, with a combined capacity of about 14 million cubic feet per day, are nearing completion and are expected to become operational by the end of September.
Another project at the Khesht oil field, with a capacity of about 10 million cubic feet per day, is under development, while the Sarkon-Maleh Kuh project is also progressing through implementation and investment stages.
Rezaei said the projects would prevent the loss of valuable natural gas, reduce emissions associated with flaring and improve overall production efficiency.
With higher production targets, expanded compression capacity, new field developments and a stronger focus on preventive maintenance and digital monitoring, the ICOFC is positioning the planned 12-billion-cubic-meter increase in gas output as a key contribution to Iran’s effort to strengthen energy security and reduce seasonal gas shortages.