Iran planning to change Qeshm Island into energy hub

The Iranian Oil Ministry has devised a plan to turn Iran\'s Persian Gulf Qeshm Island into an energy hub, the country\'s senior oil officials announced. Iranian Offshore Oil Company’s Managing Director Mahmoud Zirakchianzadeh made the remarks at the inauguration ceremony of the development plan of Hengam oil field. Zirakchianzadeh said the energy package of the Qeshm region includes production of oil and gas as well as power generation, development of petrochemical industry and bunkering activities. He said drilling five wells has increased oil production at Hengam oil field to 30 thousand barrels per day, while the company plans to produce 80 and 160 mcf of gas per day in the next phases of its development. Zirakchianzadeh further pointed to the laying of a 16-inch pipeline from the seabed for the first time by deployment of horizontal drilling technology in the distance between Laft and Pahl ports and completion of Hengam development plan in less than two years as the two important achievements of the Hengam oil field’s development plan. A part of Bandar Abbas oil refinery’s input will be met through a 75 km 16 inches pipeline from Hengam oil field, the IOOC managing director said, adding that development of the oil field not only has led to creation of some important infrastructures for changing Qeshm region into an energy hub but has facilitated development of other nearby fields including Tosan and Hormoz. Elsewhere in his remarks, Zirakchianzaeh said development of Forouz B gas field has kicked off while development contract of Tosan field is nearing completion. Development plan of Hengam oil field came on line officially in the presence of Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in mid July. The project was implemented with the aim of boosting oil production to 30 thousand barrels per day.