Siri Island, or Raz Island, is one of Iran’s most significant oil-producing islands. Once entirely dedicated to oil operations, the island now also hosts a growing military presence. Unlike other Iranian islands, Siri has no indigenous population.

Previously, women were even barred from entering the island, but the presence of families of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) personnel has begun to change its male-dominated environment. During the Persian New Year (Nowruz) and holidays, some families of oil workers also visit the island.

The island remains warm even in mid-winter, fitting for its oil-rich nature. Amid the oil facilities scattered across the island, deer roam freely, showcasing nature’s resilience alongside industrial activity. While working in oil operations is notoriously challenging, the conditions on Siri Island and its platforms are particularly harsh. In other operational areas, the presence of local communities provides a sense of normalcy for oil workers, but Siri lacks any urban life.

The island’s limited commerce is confined to a few containers managed by the workers themselves, operating only in the late hours of the day. The remoteness from the mainland has also delayed the renovation of worker housing compared to other oil operation sites, creating additional challenges. Despite this, Raz Island, located 17 kilometers from Iran in the Persian Gulf, is responsible for oil production from five fields. In addition to oil, a small amount of sweet gas is produced, primarily used to generate electricity for the platforms and the island.

Electricity supply: a key challenge for oil production on Siri

Mohammad Reza Akbar Mousavi, deputy director of the Siri operational zone, explained that the Siri area consists of two platforms: Ilam and Nasr. The Nasr platform covers the smaller Esfand, Sivand, Dena, and Alvand fields, while the Ilam platform operates the Nasrat field. Most of the oil and some gas production in the Siri area comes from the Nasr platform, which has several sub-platforms and is the older of the two.

He noted that water injection into these fields is being planned to boost production. Additionally, the sweet gas produced from the Ilam platform is transferred to the Siri Island power plant to generate electricity, which is used not only to meet the island’s needs but also to support oil and gas production and water injection.

Mousavi emphasized that electricity supply is critical for the Siri area. While some wells on the Ilam platform produce oil and gas naturally without requiring electricity, the overall operations, including equipment and oil transfer to Siri Island, depend on a stable power supply.

Despite efforts to maintain uninterrupted power, Mousavi acknowledged that the aging turbines and power plants require periodic major repairs, posing a significant challenge.

5m barrels of oil storage capacity

Mousavi added that besides the existing turbines on Siri Island, two other power plants have been built—one for an NGL project and another for gas transfer from the shared Salman field. These plants are used in emergencies to meet power demands. Efforts are underway to synchronize these power plants to ensure a more stable electricity supply.

He also highlighted the challenges of maintaining and increasing oil and gas production in the Siri area. Optimizing existing wells requires offshore drilling rigs, which are essential for sustaining oil and sweet gas production. Additionally, platform equipment and pipelines need regular maintenance to prevent disruptions in production. However, the high costs and limited number of domestic companies capable of offshore work complicate these efforts.

Mousavi noted that the oil produced in Siri is exported via an export dock capable of accommodating tankers with a capacity of up to 1.5 million barrels. The produced oil is stored in tanks and exported once it reaches a certain volume. Currently, the active oil storage capacity on Siri Island is 5 million barrels.

He also mentioned that recent salary increases for oil workers in operational areas have alleviated some concerns. However, the industry faces a manpower shortage, particularly in specialized roles such as turbine maintenance, crane operation, and instrumentation, as many workers have retired without replacements.

Oil operations across a 40-square-kilometer marine area

During a visit to the Siri operational zone, we traveled to the Nasr platform, located 33 kilometers from Raz Island. The platform, which consists of several sub-platforms, has 63 production wells and 17 injection wells. The operational area spans approximately 40 square kilometers, the largest among Iran’s continental shelf operational zones, requiring daily inspections by workers.

Amir Rajabi, deputy manager of the Nasr platform, stated that each shift has about 45 workers handling maintenance, services, mechanics, and other tasks. He emphasized that their primary responsibility is maintaining the platform and ensuring oil production.

Rajabi explained that the Nasr platform’s wells initially produced oil without the need for downhole pumps due to natural pressure. However, as production has continued over decades, downhole pumps are now necessary to sustain output.

Oil production with a focus on environmental preservation

Rajabi noted that recent salary increases have significantly improved worker morale and productivity. He also highlighted efforts to protect the marine environment, despite the challenges posed by the 70-meter water depth in the area. Repairs are carried out as quickly as possible to minimize environmental impact.

The Nasr platform has two separators that perform initial processing on oil from the sub-platforms before it is transferred to Siri Island for final processing and export.

Completing the oil production and export chain on Siri

Oil and gas extracted from the Persian Gulf are processed and exported via Siri Island, which has established a complete value chain from production to export. The island is also self-sufficient in gas and electricity production.

Esmail Hashemi, head of onshore operations for the Siri operational zone, explained that oil and gas from the Nasr and Ilam platforms are transported via pipelines to processing facilities on Siri Island. The oil undergoes separation, processing, and desalination before being stored in tanks for export.

The onshore facilities consist of three units: crude oil operations, water and steam equipment, and storage and export loading. Workers operate in 12-hour shifts, and the facilities have been in operation since 1975.

Hashemi noted that the Siri operational zone was transferred to the Iranian Offshore Oil Company after the Islamic Revolution and the Iran-Iraq War. He described the remoteness of Siri Island as the most challenging aspect of operations, as it is the farthest oil-producing island from the mainland.

Involvement of NTBFs in oil facility maintenance

Hashemi highlighted electricity supply as a major challenge for Siri Island, given its distance from the mainland. Most wells on the Nasr platform require pumps that depend on a stable power supply, making electricity a top priority.

He also noted significant progress in maintaining oil assets and facilities, with new technology-based firms (NTBFs) and domestic capabilities in spare parts manufacturing playing a key role. While sanctions have slowed some activities, the involvement of these companies and academic research has helped sustain operations and production.

Hashemi emphasized that the entry of NTBFs and private companies has partially resolved maintenance challenges, ensuring the continued operation of facilities and stable production.