Shell Iran has achieved a major project milestone in the redevelopment of the Soroosh and Nowrooz fields in the Northern Persian Gulf with the start of drilling in the Soroosh field.
The Maersk Viking spudded on February 15th the first in a planned programme of 10 new horizontal production wells and two water disposal wells marking the start of offshore work in the field located in shallow waters some 80 kilometers west of Kharg Island.
Robert Weener, Chief Executive of Shell in Iran, said: "We are pleased with the progress that has been made to date in the Soroosh/Nowrooz integrated development project, which is both on schedule and within budget.
The working relationship with the National Iranian Oil Company has been excellent and the project is providing significant benefits to all parties. We are learning a great deal from each other."
"Since we signed the agreement with NIOC in November, 1999, most of the major contracts have been awarded to both Iranian and foreign sub-contractors. We are pleased that we are on track to achieve our Iranian content target of at least 30 percent."
Work has started in the SAFF yard (Offshore Industries Company) in Bandar Abbas for the structures required for the Early Production System in Soroosh which is expected to be completed by August 2000.
Iranian Oilfield Services Company has been awarded a contract to provide logistics services during the development.
The company has established a supply base to provide a wide range of support services at the project's onshore base at Bandar Imam Khomeini.
Reserves to be developed by the project at Soroosh and Nowrooz are estimated at some 500 and 550 million barrels respectively of heavy crude oil, and full production levels are expected to reach 100,000 barrels per day (b/d) (Soroosh) and 90,000 b/d (Nowrooz).
Early production from Soroosh is expected to start around the end of August this year and full production from both fields in 2003.
Source: Shell.com
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
