Hassan Mohammadi-Moqaddam added the three-dimensional seismographic of the two fields are underway in a 640 square kilometer region.

“Although the Hendijan and Bahregansar project is small, their operations are pretty difficult,” said the official.

The project had been on agenda since 40 years ago, said Mohammadi-Moqaddam, adding it had been regularly postponed due to its persisting tough conditions.

“The onshore operations of the project have ended and the operations in the quagmire have made 40 percent progress,” he added.

The Iranian Offshore Oil Company would sign the contractor for Bahregansar oil refinery in the current Iranian year (to end on March 20, 2008), said IOOC managing director on Friday.

Mahmoud Zirakchianzadeh said that the refinery, which is to transform the heavy oil to light oil, would come on stream within the next three years.

The total capacity of the refinery would be 10 thousand barrels, he said, adding that the brimstone volume, included in the oil, would increase from 15 to 20 api to 34 api.

“After inauguration of the new onshore refinery in Bahregansar region, the plant will refine 60,000 barrels of crude oil per day extracted from Hendijan and Bahregansar oilfields,” the official said.

Totally $109 million plus 25 billion rials would be invested in the offshore and onshore sectors of the project, Zirakchianzadeh said.

Bahregan is among operational regions of the Iranian Offshore Oil Company, with Kharg, Sirri, and Lavan as other regions.

The IOOC is affiliated to the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), which is in charge of Iran’s offshore oil and gas projects.