Beyond the Known Map

The search for new oil and gas reserves under Iran's 14th administration was not confined to familiar territory. Exploratory studies and operations extended into parts of the south, west, center, southeast, and the Makran region. During this period, 13 exploration targets reached maturity, and NIOC's board approved 9 additional targets for future drilling.

Belal: A $45b Discovery

One of the period's most significant milestones was the discovery of the Belal gas field in Fars Province, located northwest of Khonj county, roughly 35 kilometers from the Shanul and Homa gas fields.

Studies estimate the field's gas-in-place at around 7,500 billion cubic feet, with recoverable reserves of approximately 5,700 billion cubic feet at a recovery factor of about 72 percent. The field's economic value is estimated at roughly $45 billion.

The Belal find, alongside the Pazan gas discovery, underscores the continued exploration potential of the Zagros belt—still one of NIOC's core areas of activity. At Pazan, an estimated 200 million barrels of oil-in-place were identified.

Meanwhile, by confirming oil-column continuity in the lower Sarvak formation of the Azar and Changuleh fields, 2.4 billion barrels of new oil-in-place were identified and announced in these structures.

From Study to Spud: Preparing Targets for Drilling

Part of the Exploration Directorate's work over the past two years focused on preparing new targets for drilling. Maturing 13 exploration targets, forming fast-track working groups to pave the way for drilling, and securing board approval for 9 targets all helped steer exploratory studies toward future drilling operations.

On the drilling side, 23,834 meters of exploratory drilling were completed, and drilling operations concluded on eight exploration wells. To reduce risk and improve drilling efficiency, air and foam fluid designs were implemented, along with unconventional casing-running methods.

At the Rag-e-Sefid 153 well, despite difficult conditions stemming from the 12-day war, three casing strings were successfully run—part of the industry's continued operations under exceptional circumstances.

Expanding the Geophysical Footprint

In geophysics, 2,100 kilometers of 2D seismic data and 3,023 square kilometers of 3D seismic data were acquired during this period.

The Arvand 3D seismic survey in Khuzestan Province, covering 1,615 square kilometers, was completed ahead of schedule—a notable achievement given the region's intense heat, marshy terrain, and the added difficulties of the imposed war and the 12-day war.

In the south and southeast, magnetotelluric studies continued, with data acquisition launched across 10 provinces in the southern Dezful, Central Iran, and Makran zones, including Sistan and Baluchestan and Kerman. In the west, a contract was signed for magnetotelluric data acquisition in Ilam, Kermanshah, and Lorestan provinces.

A standout achievement was the 100% completion of the airborne magnetic survey over southeastern Zagros, covering 18,980 kilometers of flight lines—the first such operation conducted in this area since the Islamic Revolution.

Seismic Surveys Reach New Territory

The Haftkal–Naft Sefid seismic survey was completed ahead of schedule. In the northwest and the Moghan region, both 2D and 3D seismic surveys were carried out, with the 3D survey marking the first such operation in northwestern Iran.

In the west, the Zaferan–Zangovan 2D seismic survey continued across Kermanshah, Ilam, and Lorestan provinces.

Additionally, 10 geophysical tenders were held for 2,000 kilometers of 2D seismic, 3,200 square kilometers of onshore 3D seismic, and 43,500 non-seismic survey stations. In the Persian Gulf, tenders were issued for 11,100 square kilometers of 3D seismic data and 950 kilometers of 2D seismic data, extending exploratory studies to the country's offshore sector.

Well Operations: From Logging to Layer Testing

Alongside exploratory drilling, reservoir evaluation and characterization operations continued. During this period, 1,290 logging operations were carried out, and 380 perforation and plug-setting jobs were recorded.

Foam acidizing was put into operation, and continuous nitrogen lift along with mobile coiled tubing were used to improve production conditions and reservoir assessment.

Other notable measures included the design and implementation of TPST logging and 23 FBDST layer tests across seven exploration wells.

Building the Roads to Discovery

Advancing exploration is impossible without access infrastructure. Over the past two years, 32.93 kilometers of roads and 11.59 cellar units were built across 6 provinces in 14 projects.

Together with geophysical, drilling, and reservoir evaluation operations, these efforts paint a picture of the Exploration Directorate's wide-ranging activity over the first two years of the 14th administration—work that spans from identifying new structures and discovering oil and gas reserves to preparing targets for future drilling.

The Belal discovery, valued at an estimated $45 billion, together with the finds at Pazan and the expansion of geophysical studies into less-studied regions, demonstrates that exploration remains one of the primary pathways for creating new production capacity and strengthening the country's hydrocarbon reserve base.