As the oldest operating area of the IOOC, the Bahregan region has played a unique role in the history of oil production in the Persian Gulf. Since the first well was drilled in the Bahregansar field in 1960 and crude processing began in 1961, the area has become one of Iran’s main offshore production centers.

After the 1979 revolution, several multinational companies operating on Iran’s islands in the Persian Gulf were merged to form the IOOC. Bahregan became its first official operating region. Today, Bahregan manages four major fields — Bahregansar, Hendijan, Soroush and Norouz — and serves as a strategic hub for crude and condensate processing, storage and export.

The following is Shana’s interview with  Gholamhossein Emami, head of production operations in the Bahregan region, who provides an overview of the field conditions and plans to boost output.

What is the history of the Bahregan oil region?

Bahregan is the IOOC’s oldest oil region. It was established after drilling began in the Bahregansar field in 1960, followed by crude processing in 1961. Before the revolution, there was no “Offshore Oil Company”; islands such as Kharg, Bahregan, Siri and Lavan were each operated by different multinational companies. In 1979, under the order of Ayatollah Khomeini, those companies were merged to form the IOOC. The company now operates six regions, with Qeshm and Kish added to the original four.

Which oil fields fall under Bahregan’s responsibility?

The first well was drilled in Bahregansar. Over time, the Hendijan and Norouz fields were added, and after the revolution, the Soroush field also came under Bahrgan’s management. Although Soroush was active before the revolution as part of the Kharg region, its development plan and crude characteristics aligned closely with those of Norouz, so both fields were assigned to Bahrgan for unified development. The region now oversees Bahregansar, Hendijan, Soroush and Norouz.

How is crude from these fields processed and transported?

Crude from the Hendijan and Bahregansar fields is initially degassed on the platforms and then sent to onshore facilities for desalting before being exported through two separate routes.

Soroush and Norouz operate differently: All processing takes place offshore. At Soroush, crude is degassed and desalinated at sea; crude from Norouz is desalinated at the Soroush platform. Because both fields produce sweet crude, full offshore processing is possible. These fields have no operational dependency on onshore facilities.

What strategic advantages does Bahregan have over other Iranian oil regions?

The region can function as both an intake and an export hub for crude. It can receive crude from other regions and export it, and it can load or offload crude via a single-point mooring buoy. This makes it a critical strategic zone. During the eight-year Iran-Iraq War, the region also received refined products from abroad and supplied the front lines.

What are the company’s plans to increase production?

Because reservoir pressure naturally declines over time, maintaining and boosting production is a priority. The region has consistently followed a reservoir-preservation approach, which has allowed the Bahregansar and Hendijan fields to continue producing at natural pressure after 64 years. Current plans call for increasing output by about 3,900 barrels per day over the next year.

Has Bahregan made progress in digitalization?

Yes. The region’s wells were connected to a SCADA system about 10 years ago through an Iranian contractor, allowing real-time pressure monitoring. Although the platforms in Bahregansar are isolated and harder to control, monitoring is done using solar panels, batteries and wireless communication.

What environmental and resource-efficiency measures have been implemented?

The Bahregan operations center has implemented water-saving standards to reduce pressure on the national water network, even though it draws water from the Kowsar Dam. Offshore desalination units have been serviced, and a project plan for a 2,000-cubic-meter-per-day desalination plant has been submitted to the National Iranian Oil Company.

To support the power grid during peak consumption in hot months, the region aims to restart its local power plant. Gas flaring in Soroush and Norouz is minimal because the sweet gas is used in turbines to power the platforms, with excess gas sent to the Abuzar platform.