SHANA -- Iran�s 2015 historic nuclear deal with the West is known as the biggest important event in the petroleum industry in recent years. The agreement, which was achieved after 10 years of intensive diplomatic talks, cleared the way for the return of Iran�s oil to global markets. Iran intends to take advantage of this opportunity to relaunch ageing oil and gas fields, as well as decrepit petroleum industry infrastructure by attracting Western capital and expertise.






Iran intends to raise its oil production to 5 mb/d by the end of its 20-year vision plan. In this regard, old onshore and offshore fields are instrumental.


Doroud oil field, which is located in Kharg Island and northwest of the Persian Gulf, is among developed oil fields which the Iranian Offshore Oil Company (IOOC) presented to foreign investors within the framework of the new model of oil contracts � the Iran Petroleum Contract (IPC).


Nearly 16 years have now passed since an agreement was signed for the development of the Doroud field. Enhanced recovery from the field has not been achieved despite gas injection since 2008.


According to the Department for Economic and Financial Feasibility Studies of National Iranian Oil Company�s Directorate of Corporate Planning, the investment needed in the Doroud field over four years has been calculated, which would be secured through signing F, EPCF and EPDF deals. The project costs will be recouped over a six-year period from the increase in the crude oil production capacity.


The package of investment for the integrated development of IOOC oil and gas fields has been drawn up in line with Iran�s law on removal of barriers to competitive production and upgrading the fiscal system. It will take effect after the acquisition of necessary permits from NIOC Board of Directors and the Economic Council and signing agreements with investors. This investment package takes into consideration compliance with Iran�s fifth five-year economic development plan for the prioritization of development projects including development of jointly owned oil and gas fields.


Doroud oil field development project is along IOOC-run projects open to investment. IOOC is a leading company in applying ESP to wells and gas lifting in the country. It intends to focus on improving the rate of recovery from hydrocarbon fields nominated for investment.


Over the past four decades, Doroud has been developed twice. It is now ready to undergo the third phase of development.


Doroud is estimated to contain 7.6 billion barrels of oil in place. Due to 33-year recovery from this field and non-timely injection of water and gas, only 1.5 billion barrels of oil was recoverable from this field. But now due to development activities in this field, the recoverable amount is expected to rise to 2.5 billion barrels.


Currently, Doroud is producing on average 15,431 b/d of oil from its offshore wells and 36,500 b/d from its onshore wells. In 1997, 42 wells were drilled in the oil field. Eighteen offshore wells and 23 onshore wells have been drilled and completed.


The crude oil processing installations are used for treating 100,000 b/d offshore and 110,000 b/d onshore.


About 1.6 billion barrels of oil has been recovered from this field over the past four decades. Oil production from Doroud came to a halt during the 1980-1988 imposed war.


The first wave of enhanced recovery from the Doroud field started in 2002 at the rate of 15,000 to 16,000 b/d. In the following years, production increased as new wells were drilled in this oil field.


When Iran signed an agreement with France�s energy giant Total in 1999 for the development of Doroud, each barrel of oil was $20. Total acquired Elf and Agip to make good investment in Iran. The French company failed to inject gas into Doroud on schedule and the project was halted mid-way. But it must be taken into consideration that in recent years as average oil prices have been at $40 a barrel, this project has been profitable for Iran with a quick rate of return on investment.


Before the gas injection section of the Doroud oil field was launched in Kharg Island, many Iranian petroleum industry experts recommended that due to the unprecedented high pressure gas injection (6,000 psi) into the field and its unknown consequences, the gas injection section be transferred from Total to the client after completion of the water injection and oil production process. In the meantime, the geologically complicated structure of the Doroud field and the location of this oil field in Kharg Island slowed down the pace of drilling in the first years of development of this field as simultaneous onshore and offshore work was tough.


Courtesy of Iran Petroleum