Studies prove Iran's sweet gas reserves

/By AzerNews/

By Aynur Karimova

Recent studies show that energy-rich Iran, which holds the world's fourth-largest proved crude oil reserves and the world's second-largest natural gas reserves, has considerable reserves of sweet gas in the lower and deeper layers of some fields next to the South Pars.

Mohammad Reza Kamali, the Director of the Upstream Campus at Iran’s Oil Industry Research Center, said the finding comes as part of an extensive exploration operation called the Pearl of the Persian Gulf that covers 138 square kilometers stretching from the west of the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman.

The operation also provides full geological, geo-chemical and petroleum engineering information about the whole oil fields as well as 970 wells in the region, according to him.

Sweet gas is natural gas that is found to be free from hydrogen sulfide. Sweet gas in its purest form can be processed easily as it does not require a lengthy purifying process. It is not corrosive in nature; hence it is relatively easy to use as compared to sour gas.

Earlier, Roknoddin Javadi, the CEO of the National Iranian Oil Company, said new reserves of gas and oil have been discovered in the country, and added that the extractable amount will be announced soon.

According to the Iran Petroleum Ministry, the proved natural gas reserves of Iran are about 1,046 trillion cubic feet (29.6 trillion cubic meters) or about 15.8 percent of world's total reserves, of which 33 percent are as associated gas and 67 percent is in non-associated gas fields.

In its most recent report, BP said Iran is in possession of 157 billion barrels of oil reserves, equal to 9.3 percent of the whole world’s reserves. According to BP, Iran holds 19.4 percent of the Middle East’s crude reserves.