Speaking at a ceremony honoring former exploration directors on Monday, Mohyeddin Jafari said: "We have initiated the required communications with the NIOC CEO to restore the High Exploration Council, and we hope to witness its reestablishment soon."

He went on to say that the suggestions of experienced directors would be used as a guideline for the department’s operations.

Jafari also emphasized the often-overlooked but vital work performed by the exploration department, noting plans to document the oral history of the department using the expertise of its former leaders to preserve it for future generations.

7,500-meter drilling in Caspian Sea 

Former NIOC exploration director Mansour Parvinian highlighted the importance of such gatherings for exchanging ideas among former leaders. "We began our work in exploration with two specific goals: developing the South Pars field and the Caspian Sea," he said. 

He recounted drilling the first well in the Caspian Sea to a depth of 7,500 meters using a rented rig and starting operations in the southern Persian Gulf through a contract with a Dutch company.

Exploration: A fundamental step in oil and gas production 

Ali Moshtaqian, another former exploration director, stressed the foundational role of exploration in oil and gas production, stating that "The exploration department must regain its previous stature within NIOC."

Mehdi Hosseini, another former leader in exploration, noted: "Exploration is the starting point for this oil- and gas-rich country, and it should be at the forefront. More attention must be given to the challenges faced by exploration staff."

Exploration as a strategic asset 

Mahmoud Mohaddes, a veteran exploration director, highlighted the increasing significance of exploration, saying "In the past, financial constraints and the challenges of wartime meant exploration was neglected." 

He emphasized that the exploration department remains one of NIOC’s greatest assets, adding: "It must shine as it did in the past, repeating its previous successes by discovering new fields and contributing to the nation’s wealth."

Focus on smaller structures in oil and gas exploration 

Hormoz Qalavand, another former exploration director, underscored the expertise within NIOC’s exploration division.

He recommended defining new projects to maintain the department’s prominence and advocated for a focus on smaller fields. 

"We shouldn’t expect another field like Azadegan today," Qalavand noted, stating "Instead, the management should focus on smaller fields such as Kapeh Dagh and address challenges like imbalances and implementing 3D seismic surveys in the South Pars field."

Collaboration with Atomic Energy Organization of Iran

Mohammad-Hassan Tavalaei, also a former exploration director, called for strengthening ties between the exploration department and oil-rich regions, a collaboration that had previously yielded positive results.

Now leading a subsidiary of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Tavalaei revealed: "Eighty percent of the nation’s surface data is held by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, and we are fully prepared to collaborate with NIOC’s exploration management."