“Iran Petroleum”has interviewed Mohammad Reza Pour-Abedi, vice president of ACECR for research and technology, to learn about the activities of the center in Iran’s petroleum industry.

What plans does the Office of ACECR Vice President for Research and Technology have in cooperating with the petroleum industry?

One of the missions assigned to ACECR as a leading research entity is to identify challenges the industry, services, agriculture and healthcare sectors are faced with. It seeks to identify these challenges in a bid to quickly find a knowledge-based response to them in specific domains. For ACECR, the petroleum industry plays a determining and leading role in national economy. Once the industry keeps running, so do other industries. ACECR has been assisting the petroleum industry for more than three decades with a view to reducing its dependence on foreign companies. We have managed to minimize this dependence in some areas and todevelop the technologies needed by the petroleum industry, or to work with the best foreigners to transfer technology. Excellent work has been done in the past and we are faring very well. We hope that with the changes that have taken place, the activities of thecenter will expand in cooperation with the petroleum industry.

How are you cooperating with the petroleum industry?

Most of our discussions are about developing products or providing services. We are not just looking for research and surely the research we do should lead to a product or service that can solve one of the problems of the oil industry. We have long been involved in UPS chargers for the petroleum industry in a bid to ensure power supply to instruments. We have done a lot for petrochemical plants and refineries. In most phases of South Pars, we have used these UPS chargers. On the other hand, we have entered the issue of construction of drilling rigs and so far we have built and delivered two drilling rigs and we hope to deliver the third rig by the end of this year. Measures have been also taken to build drilling rigs as one of the strategic equipment of the petroleum industry.Based on this, we have on the agenda the construction of 9 drills in different sizes, which are among the 10 items of the oil commodity group that we are building. More than 200 drills have been delivered to the employer so far. We are waiting for the final test, and if it is built, production will begin.We are also planning to build oil loading arms, which are very large robots that are used to transport oil and liquids from platform to sea and from ship to platform, which is also being done successfully. In the discussion of downhole pumps, considering that our oil wells have reached the second half of their life and these pumps should be used. Also, regarding enhanced recovery, these pumps should be used. In this regard, good work has been done. The engine has been built and the final design is currently underway.

Which field are these pumps destined to?

A contract has been concluded with a private company in this regard, which is designed for one of the fields in West Karoun. Because each of these pumps has a different design based on the specifications of the well, the designs are done based on the order that is given.

How many wells are to be used for?

At the moment, according to the contract that has been concluded, we are going to make a prototype, which is being done, and when the construction is completed and the final test is done, we will enter mass production.

ACECR has reportedly engaged in the development of downhole hydraulic motors. Can you tell us more?

Yes, one of the new activities that ACECR is doing is downhole hydraulic motors, which are especially needed for directional drilling in joint fields. Development of this motor is in the final stage, which must be finally tested and then churned out.

What other domains have you been involved in?

ACECR has moved to build a 50,000-barrel desalting plant for the North Yaran field. Another measure is using drilling starch. Based on studies carried out so far, starch may be used in drilling due to its high resistance to temperature. It has been done using potato wastes in Ardebil. A pilot plan is currently doing the job. Another measureperformedis in the field of activated carbon to prevent the sale of raw bitumen. As you know, bitumen is sold in raw form in Kermanshah and the western provinces of the country. It can be used extensively in the sanitary and wastewater treatment industries, as well as in the oil industry, which will create more added value. A pilot plan for this issue has been launched for 200 tonnes a year in Kermanshah province. Earlier, an agreement was reached for a 100-tonne pilot, but with an agreement reached with the PetroleumMinistry, the capacity was increased to 200 tonnes per year. In this regard, ACECR has designed a plant in Kermanshah.We have done a very good job for widely-used chemicals and we hope to be able to make these substances, which are mainly supplied from abroad, with the domestic raw materials that we have, especially demoxifiers that are used for the purification of oil and separation of water and brine.

How about catalysts?

We are using catalysts in the Ceramic Modern Substances Research Center in Yazd. Refractory catalysts for steelmaking and other catalysts used in the oil industry. Of course, we are also carrying out activities in car catalysts and we hope to open a production line of 300,000 tonnes of car catalysts by next year.

How about high-tech equipment?

Yes, manufacturing coiled tubing, which is high-tech, is among our latest activities. We have signed an agreement with the Directorate of Commodity Procurement and Manufacturing for the delivery of 100 coiled tubings. 

Have you been engaged in first-manufacture products?

Yes, drilling bits for example. Coiled tubing manufacturing was also in this category.

How are you communicating with leading scientific and international centers and companies?

Wehave communications with them and on this basis we have tried to export our products through Iranian contractors operating abroad, while so far the products have been exported to Kenya, Turkmenistan and Iraq. Good relations have been established with Azerbaijan, which we hope we can use.

What products have been involved?

Products have included UPS. Of course, some of the equipment of our high pressure laboratories has been exported to Europe, but this has been done with well-known brands. In terms of research work, we also tried to cooperate with prominent universities and companies. We do not want to start from scratch, we can transfer technology in cooperation with the best foreign companies and brands, and when we master that technology, we can upgrade it and even export it to other countries. Of course, some technologies are vital that we must develop.

What foreign companies are you in contact with?

Various companies, for example we have connections with companies based in China as well as European companies, and we also communicate with some Russian companies.

Courtesy of Iran Petroleum