Abolqassem Irani, operations manager of the East Oil and Gas Production Company, said the company currently produces gas from 64 active wells in the Khangiran, Gonbadli and Tous fields, with regional output reaching about 65 million cubic meters per day during peak production.

Of the active wells, 33 are located in the Khangiran field and two in Gonbadli, he said, adding that production capacity will increase as new wells come on stream.

Preparing for Peak Winter Demand

Irani said this year’s overhaul program is being carried out on a tighter schedule in view of gas production requirements and higher demand from the national network during the cold season.

The work is being conducted simultaneously at gathering centers, the central measurement facility and a number of production wells, with operational teams working around the clock, he said.

Mechanical and electrical equipment, power and control panels, UPS systems and other process equipment are being inspected and repaired as part of the program.

Irani said technical inspection results were reviewed before the overhaul began, allowing issues such as equipment wall-thickness reductions, material modifications and the need to repair or replace components to be identified and incorporated into the work plan.

Safety requirements have also been addressed before the start of operations, he said, adding that areas requiring isolation and securing were identified in advance and work began only after the facilities were made safe.

Mechanical, welding, electrical and instrumentation and control teams are working simultaneously to complete the repairs as quickly as possible without compromising safety standards, Irani said.

 Mozdouran: Key Gas Gathering Hub

Irani described the Mozdouran Central Gathering Center as a key link in the Khangiran area's gas production and transmission chain.

About 18 wells feed the facility through 22 pipelines, and nearly two-thirds of the gas produced from the Mozdouran reservoir — about 30 million cubic meters per day — is gathered there, he said.

The gas is then transported through two 16-inch and four 14-inch pipelines to the central measurement facility, where liquids are separated before the gas is delivered through five 20-inch pipelines to the Shahid Hasheminejad Gas Refinery.

Deliveries through this route reach about 44 million cubic meters per day during peak winter production, Irani said.

From Valves to Control Panels

Irani said equipment at the Mozdouran gathering center was inspected based on technical assessment results, with issues including reduced wall thickness, material modifications and equipment repairs identified in advance.

Valves with internal or external leakage, valve seats and equipment requiring adjustment are removed and sent to workshops for repair and calibration before being returned to service, he said.

Electrical substations, relays and control panels are also undergoing major maintenance, while the center’s inlet and outlet equipment will be fully inspected, tightened and cleaned.

Building on Last Winter’s Performance

Irani said the region maintained production throughout last winter without unplanned shutdowns, while production and injection wells at the Shourijeh D storage facility operated according to schedule.

Gas production continued without interruption, allowing the region to meet, and in some cases exceed, its production targets, he said.

Alongside the overhaul program, development of new wells is also continuing. One new well has entered production, while preparations are underway to bring another well on stream.

3,000 Man-Hours Planned for Overhaul

Vahab Zarif-Payam, head of overhaul planning and coordination at the East Oil and Gas Production Company, said the program was designed to ensure production stability during winter, based on the company's annual maintenance plans and work orders resulting from technical inspections.

Planning began last fall, and inspection reports and work orders were incorporated into this year's overhaul program following technical assessments, he said.

Given the importance of stable gas supplies in northeastern Iran and the highly corrosive nature of Khangiran gas, major maintenance is essential in the region, Zarif-Payam said. About 3,000 man-hours of work have been scheduled for the current overhaul program.

Some activities stem from technical inspection findings, while others involve routine annual maintenance that must be carried out continuously because of the characteristics of Khangiran's produced gas, he said.

The health, safety and environment (HSE) plan was developed alongside the maintenance program, with safety, environmental and firefighting requirements defined for each activity, Zarif-Payam added.

The Khangiran operational area, which produces gas from the Khangiran, Gonbadli and Tous fields and includes the Shourijeh D gas storage facility, is a key source of gas supply for northeastern Iran.

The current overhaul program is aimed at reducing the risk of equipment shutdowns and improving facility readiness for the cold months. The work, combined with new-well development and the use of gas storage capacity, is intended to help maintain stable gas supplies during peak winter demand.