Khangiran is the only major gas field in northeastern Iran and has long served as the backbone of energy supply for millions of residents in the east. Located in the harsh climate of Sarakhs—where summers bring sandstorms and searing heat and winters bring bitter cold—oil and gas workers strive around the clock to ensure a steady flow of energy to homes and communities.

In addition to production, Khangiran hosts the country’s largest gas storage center. Gas is stored in summer and released during the coldest winter days, doubling the importance of overhauls and development projects. These operations are carried out under the toughest conditions with the highest precision and safety standards.

To learn more about Khangiran’s operations and plans, Shana interviewed Abolqassem Irani, operations manager of East Oil and Gas Production Company and head of the Khangiran operational zone.

Please explain the scope of the East Oil and Gas Production Company.

This company is the only gas producer in eastern Iran, covering about 25 by 75 square kilometers. It includes the Khangiran and Gonbadli fields. Khangiran has three reservoirs—Mozdouran, Shourijeh B, and Shourijeh D. Gonbadli is a shared field with Turkmenistan that produces sweet gas.

What is the daily production capacity of each reservoir?

Mozdouran has 34 active wells, producing about 45 million cubic meters of sour gas per day at peak. The extracted gas is collected in three centers, then transferred via eight pipelines to the measurement center. After separation of gas, condensates, and water, each stream is independently delivered to the refinery.

Shourijeh D, with 21 wells, is a strategic reservoir. During the first eight months of the year, 12–13 million cubic meters of gas are injected daily, while in the four cold months, 18–20 million cubic meters are withdrawn. Shourijeh B is operated during the last four months of the year with a daily withdrawal of about 1.5 million cubic meters. Gonbadli produces about 0.6 million cubic meters per day.

What measures have been taken recently to increase production and maintain output?

We successfully brought well No. 85 online with 1.5 million cubic meters capacity and carried out stimulation on four wells, adding another 1 million cubic meters. A 16-inch pipeline project eliminated bottlenecks at Shourijeh D, raising winter withdrawal capacity to 20 million cubic meters per day. Additionally, five new wells are planned for maintaining production, one of which is being drilled by the Central Oilfields Company.

Overhauls are one of your main activities in the first half of the year. How did they go this year?

In coordination with the Production Supervision Department of NIOC, this year’s overhauls began in early April and proceeded on schedule at all collection centers. The main goal is preparing the facilities for maximum winter production. Despite sandstorms, extreme heat, and public-sector shutdowns, our staff worked tirelessly. Harsh climate conditions are always a challenge, especially since HSE protocols require suspending work during sandstorms, which affects timelines. Nonetheless, more than 170,000 safe work hours were completed with no accidents.

How did operations continue during the recent 12-day conflict?

We faced very tough conditions. From the early hours, staff from security, operations, and technical teams were on full alert and on site. Even more personnel than expected volunteered to join. Specialized groups were formed and deployed across different locations to respond quickly to any incidents. Daily crisis meetings were held to monitor activities. Separate management teams were set up for the old and new phases. Thanks to these efforts, overhauls continued uninterrupted, production went on, and gas supply was not disrupted.

What is the status of HSE and emergency readiness in the zone?

Our safety, HSE, and firefighting teams are present throughout all activities, including overhauls, overseeing tasks such as venting, degassing, and line safety. As mentioned, during the 170,000 safe work hours, despite high-risk activities, there were no incidents—proof of the strong preparedness and performance of our HSE staff alongside other workers.

What is the main challenge for staff at Khangiran?

The biggest challenge is the highly sour and corrosive nature of Khangiran gas. It contains up to 36,000 ppm of hydrogen sulfide and about 6.4% carbon dioxide, making even the smallest leak a serious threat to life and health. This requires continuous, costly equipment maintenance. In addition, Sarakhs’ harsh climate—with blistering summers and frigid winters—adds to the difficulty. Yet our employees remain fully committed to ensuring a stable gas supply.

As winter approaches, what is your message to the public?

We urge people to take gas conservation seriously. Producing and delivering gas under such harsh conditions requires great effort and cost. Saving energy means preserving national wealth. I hope everyone joins the “Two Degrees Less” campaign so we can make the best use of this vital resource.

Interview by

Vahid Ziyaei