The project executor for the development of South Pars Phase 11 said the load out of the SPD11A jacket on Sunday is a milestone for the phase. Once installed at location 11A, the jacket will enable the drilling of new wells and increase output from the shared field.

Mohammadreza Rajaei, speaking at a ceremony at the Sadra Yard, said Phase 11's development includes two sections, 11A and 11B, with total gas reserves estimated at 21 trillion cubic feet. After foreign companies withdrew from the project, its development was assigned to Iranian contractors, with serious work commencing in 2019.

Production from block 11B began in 2023 with four wells, Rajaei said. The number of wells in that block is currently increasing, raising daily extraction to approximately 706 million cubic feet per day.

The jacket loaded Sunday is a four-legged structure. Construction began at the Sadra Yard in June 2023 and was completed in less than 15 months. The jacket is 76 meters (249 feet) high and designed on five levels. The structure itself weighs 2,250 metric tons; with accessories, including fenders, a temporary drilling deck, and installation parts, it weighs approximately 4,100 tons. After being moved to position 11A, it will be fixed to the seafloor with piles and prepared for the drilling rig.

Plans for 15 wells at SPD11A

Rajaei said the SPD11A jacket is designed to drill 15 wells. The deck measures 20 by 24 meters at the placement location and 33 by 38 meters at the seabed. It includes two main risers, 32 inches and 4.5 inches in diameter, for fluid transfer, and a 36-inch caisson for structural stability and load transfer to the seabed.

He emphasized the structure's size, noting that 13,200 meters of welding was required for its construction – equivalent to 35 full laps around a 370-meter soccer pitch.

Rajaei stated that all stages of the jacket's design and construction were completed entirely by domestic contractors, relying on the expertise of Iranian engineers and workers. He called it a clear symbol of national capability in executing major offshore oil and gas industry projects.

He said the installation of this jacket and the start of drilling operations at location 11A will increase Phase 11's production capacity, allowing Iran to recover a greater share of the South Pars joint gas reserves.