“That has been done for improving interactions,” Mehdi Fakour said at a symposium with upstream oil and gas associations.

Noting that amplified cooperation in exploration was a major objective of NIOC’s energy diplomacy, he said: “Currently 11 major and 300 minor projects have been planned by the NIOC Directorate of Exploration.”

He referred to augmented budget allocation to oil and gas projects, Fakour said: “In terms of budget allocation, we are standing at a high level. For the first time, we have managed to achieve the second rank in drilling among NIOC subsidiaries and directorates.”

He said that the budget allocated by NIOC to the Directorate of Exploration’s drilling activities was more than that of other companies. He added that the NIOC Directorate of Exploration came second to National Iranian South Oil Company (NISOC) in terms of drilling budget allocation.

“Among NIOC directorates, the Directorate of Exploration has received the most credit, thereby giving impetus to further exploration activities in the country,” he said.

Fakour said significant exploration seismic projects had been defined for the first time in two decades, adding that more than 4,000 persons were engaged in the exploration sector.

He said specialized associations of upstream oil and gas sector were combining knowledge and experience, adding: “Such associations are scientifically important and therefore they can help the Directorate of Exploration materialize its objectives.”

Fakour said that monitoring modern technologies and their application along with setting up communications channels between associations, knowledge-based companies and universities were among approaches expected by the NIOC Directorate of Exploration.

Noting that absorbing elite within associations was much easier than within state-owned companies, he said: “This issue can be seen as great potential in setting up technology and innovation network within associations.”

€30mn Megaprojects

The head of research and technology at NIOC also said 10 megaprojects were envisaged in oil and gas exploration. “These projects are worth more than €30 million plus IRR 1,500 billion, which would be of great help to job creation and technology development in the country,” he said.

Mahdia Motahari said: “With the agreement of the NIOC Board of Directors, a list of 14 strategic commodities needed by the petroleum industry has been prepared by the Directorate of Commodities to be made public in the near future.”

She said the list may give rise to $1bn turnover for domestic manufacturers and knowledge-based companies and contribute to the formation of knowledge-based and technological companies.

Motahari said cooperation between the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology and NIOC was an effective step towards upgrading the level of national science, adding that about 80% of research projects assigned to the ministry pertained to the petroleum industry.

Besides, she added that effective measures had been taken by NIOC in support of students.

Low-Output Well Revival

Motahari said that a major NIOC-backed project assigned to a knowledge-based company was the planned revival of low-output wells.

“To realize this strategy, there is a need for mutual learning and increased cooperation. At the same time, it is necessary for knowledge-based companies to prioritize new technological projects in order to meet the needs of the oil industry,” he said, referring to knowledge-based demand.

She said scientific societies may accelerate the flow of knowledge among key players in technology, and to achieve this goal, it is necessary to get connected to scientific societies in other countries.

4 Exploration Projects

Mohammad Chahardoli, head of education at Petroleum Ministry, said: “With the aim of obtaining modern technologies, the contract of four exploratory research projects will be signed with the domestic universities by the end of the [current calendar] year.”

“Establishing strong interactions between the university and the industry is one of the main strategies of the oil industry, and in this regard, with the aim of consolidating these two-way communications, by the end of the year, contract for four major research projects will be signed with universities,” he said.

“Last year, 2 defined projects were converted into contracts, and this year, a contract was concluded for one project title, and it is planned to complete 3 other contractual titles by the end of the year,” he added.

Chahardoli said achieving the goals of the country's energy strategic document and the need to focus on studying modern technologies in the framework of preventing crude oil sales, requires a detailed road map in which specialized oil and gas associations may play a role in it.

“Currently, the Petroleum Ministry has set the agenda for the development of priority technology programs, which can pave the way for the development of technology in the country,” he said.

Facilitating Role

Mohammad Reza Hatami, head of National Iranian Geophysics Society (NIGS), said: “NIGS was established in the direction of giving identity to the goals and activities of scientists and researchers in this field of knowledge and technology, and it is trying to pave the way for the progress and expansion of this science, by collective thinking and synergizing the ideas of researchers, between the internal and external needs of the country.”

“Given the available domestic capabilities, it is expected that this knowledge will be exported from Iran to the applicant countries, and this association is fully prepared in this field, while the scientific associations in the country facilitate the path of obtaining science and technology,” he said.

Mansour Qorbani, head of Geological Society of Iran (GSI), said:“Afghanistan and Tajikistan were represented in GSI.”

“In this society, the women's committee of earth sciences and also the committee of communication with the industry have been formed for the first time in this society, therefore this society is trying to create space and various aids to integrate the activities related to geology,” he said.

Mohammad Ali Emadi, secretary general of Iranian Petroleum Institute (IPI), highlighted Iran’s role in the Middle East in terms of huge hydrocarbon reserves, saying: “IPI aims to achieve greater synergy with Iran's oil industry, and in the meantime, considering the importance of exploration and its related activities in Iran's oil industry, more use of scientific power in the exploration activities of NIOC is very important and effective in the formation of the cycle of the value chain in Iran's oil industry.”

Hassan Qassemzadeh, head of Iranian Petroleum Geomechanics Association (IPGA), said: “This association was formed in order to expand, advance and promote science in the field of knowledge, technical knowledge and technology in geomechanics, underground production and storage of oil and gas and the qualitative development of expert forces and improving educational and research matters in related fields.”

Courtesy of Iran Petroleum