SP13 Nears Full Operation
Iran has increased its gas production by 300 mcm/d over the past five years and is expected to see another 100 mcm/d hike in gas output by next March, which marks the turn of Iranian calendar year, in case development plans in the giant offshore South Pars gas field go ahead on schedule. In other words, Iran’s gas production will near 1 bcm/d by then.
The South Pars gas field – known to be the world’s largest reservoir – is jointly owned by Iran and Qatar in the Persian Gulf waters. Although Qatar was outperforming Iran in gas recovery from South Pars, Iran has moved to accelerate the development of its own part of South Pars in recent years.
All remaining phases of South Pars, except for SP11, are planned to have become operational by March 2020. They include SP13, SP14 and SP22-24.
As South Pars development plans go ahead and Iran’s gas production and transmission capacity increases, Iran will no longer depend on importing gas from Turkmenistan and will be even able to supply gas to Iraq and Turkey.
Among remaining South Pars phases, SP13 has recently seen major developments in both offshore and onshore sector. Iranian oil and gas industry officials are making every effort to bring the SP13 file to conclusion this year.
The third train of sweetening in SP13 has become operational and the last train is set to come online soon. The first two trains of this phase process about 16 mcm/d of sour gas, which will soon reach 25 mcm/d. SP13 is currently more than 92% complete in the refinery section. The gas recovery capacity of each of the main and satellite platforms in SP13 development stands at 500 mcf/d.
The first offshore topside in SP13, weighing 2,200 tonnes, was installed this month at the site of Platform 13B.
Payam Motamed, director of SP13 development, said topsides for 13B and 13D were loaded together on Sadra Industrial Yard recently to be installed in their offshore position.
“However, due to changing weather conditions and the significance of safety obligations, Platform 13B was installed as soon as weather conditions allowed,” he said.
The installation of this platform was done after berthing near HL 5000 offshore crane. Following separation from FLB 124 vessel, Iranian engineers, technicians and service workers installed it on the pre-installed jackets.
The main platform of SP13 has a recovery capacity of 500 mcf/d (or 14.2 mcm/d). The topside is expected to become operational in January after hookup operations and activities related to platform joints are implemented.
Furthermore, the installation of the second platform in SP13 development will go ahead in case of suitable weather conditions. Platform 13D, which was loaded out along with Platform 13B, will be soon installed at its location.
Once operations for the installation and startup of Platform 13B (the main platform) and Platform 13D (the satellite platform) have been over, gas recovery from SP13 will start at the rate of 1 bcf/d (28.4 mcm/d).
Efforts have been under way in recent months for the SP13 gas pipeline to come online in the shortest possible time. Offshore pipe-laying operations in SP13 are now over.
SP13 development is aimed at fulfilling the recovery of 56 mcm/d of sour gas, 75,000 b/d of gas condensate, 400 tonnes/day of sulfur, 10.5 mt/y of liquefied petroleum gas (propane and butane) and 1 mt/y of ethane to feed petrochemical plants.
The development of SP13 involved drilling, laying subsea pipes, offshore platforms and onshore refinery. The operations started in 2010 by Iranian engineers with an investment of $5.184 billion. At the start of its operation, SP13 was receiving sour gas from SP6, SP7 and SP8.
In light of current operations in SP13, Iran is expected to be feeding 1 bcm/d into national gas grid.
In SP13 development, 38 gas wells are planned to be drilled. So far, drilling operations for 36 wells, deep 145 kilometers, have been done. Totally, 160 kilometers of gas well would be drilled in SP13. The drilling of these wells is expected to be completed by next March. The gas from these wells will be carried onshore via a 105-kilometer pipe. SP13 supplies 105 of national gas needs.
Gas production from each phase of South Pars earns Iran $5 million in direct income. Consumption of liquid fuel at power plants and elsewhere aside, each South Pars phase earns Iran totally $10 million. Any delay in the operation of SP13 and SP22-24 would inflict $40 million in losses on Iran’s economy.
After 15 years of efforts and investing $70 billion, Iran has nearly completed its mission of South Pars development. So far, 85% of the work has been done and except for SP22, the remaining phases would have become operational within a year and a half.
There are at total of 413 wells, 40 offshore platforms, 3,500 kilometers of offshore pipeline and 13 refineries in South Pars.
Once SP13 comes online, South Pars would be producing 730 mcm/d of gas, 1 mb/d of condensate, 10 million tonnes a day of LPG and 10 million tonnes a day of ethane, as well as 5,000 tonnes a day of sulfur.