Ali Aqamohammadi, head of the economic group in the office of the Supreme Leader, made the remarks at the inauguration of Pasargad Energy Flow Assurance Specialized Laboratory on Tuesday. He praised the lab's rapid launch, noting it was completed faster than typical construction and infrastructure projects.

Calling oil the nation's most vital resource, he said the 1430 Outlook plan – currently being drafted – envisions reaching an oil production capacity of 7.4 million barrels per day and a 50% increase in natural gas production capacity, which the country can achieve.

"Our problem is not a lack of capital, but a lack of investment," Aqamohammadi said. "Our people have the highest savings rate in the region. If we implement policies that make public investment in oil more profitable than gold, undoubtedly capital and savings will flow toward oil."

He also proposed establishing an oil strategic think tank at the University of Tehran in cooperation with the Pasargad Energy Group to examine and solve the nation's oil issues with a knowledge-based approach.

Production Leap Law Supports University Research

Mohammad-Hossein Omid, president of the University of Tehran, pointed to the potential of the Knowledge-Based Production Leap Law. Despite initial tax-related challenges and corporate concerns, a memorandum of understanding was signed by the economy minister, the vice president for science and technology, and the ministers of science and health to facilitate the use of tax credits to support university research activities.

Mehdi Qasemieh, dean of the University of Tehran's Technical Colleges, explained the lab's launch process: The project, with a 5 billion toman investment in building renovation and facilities and $31,000 for advanced equipment, became operational within nine months. He noted with pride that most of the center's advanced equipment was domestically sourced from knowledge-based companies.

He highlighted the lab's distinct feature of moving beyond small-scale testing: "Unlike typical labs that examine parameters in 6 to 10-meter lengths, here we can simulate fluid flow in pipes 50 to 100 meters long. This allows us to study the effects of ultrasonic waves, inhibitors and the water cut phenomenon in conditions very close to real oil wells, providing the most precise solutions to prevent asphaltene deposition and equipment corrosion."

Oil Production Sustainability Through Lab Technology

Ahmad Mohammadi, CEO of Pasargad Exploration, Development and Production Company, addressed the "pressure drop" crisis in the nation's oil reservoirs, emphasizing the lab's vital role. "Many of our crude reservoirs face pressure drops, causing oil to reach the bubble point and form asphaltene deposits," he said. "This phenomenon currently threatens the daily production of 300,000 barrels of oil, particularly in critical West Karoun fields (Darkhovin, Azadegan and Yadgaran). When we consider that drilling each well in these areas costs between $15 million and $20 million, the value of this lab's data for preserving national capital becomes clear."

He added: "We have plans to increase production from 65,000 to 110,000 barrels per day in the Sefid and Jufair fields. Eighty percent of this increase depends on wells facing asphaltene challenges. Therefore, production sustainability and achieving our developmental goals are directly tied to this laboratory's scientific results and technological solutions."

In its first phase, an advanced system for studying asphaltene deposition under real production conditions was designed, built and put into operation concurrently with the lab's inauguration. The system simulates the wellbore and reservoir rock, enabling precise examination of asphaltene deposition location and volume under high pressure and temperature. By accurately injecting oil, inhibitors and water cut, and adjusting output pressure, it simulates real downhole conditions. Data from this system plays a key role in designing chemicals, predicting flow behavior and reducing operational risks.