He said this year’s maintenance period has been shorter than in previous years, thanks to several key measures such as replacing emergency valves, upgrading outdated emergency power systems, and installing pressure equalization systems on several platforms. These improvements, he added, will ensure safer and more stable gas production during the cold season.

As winter approaches and natural gas demand rises across the country, extensive maintenance work on the offshore platforms of the South Pars gas field — which began in late April — is reaching its final stage. So far, more than 136,000 man-hours of work have been recorded. According to the project’s schedule, the dedicated efforts of technicians and specialists will likely continue until late October.

The South Pars shared gas field, which supplies more than 70% of Iran’s natural gas, also provides feedstock to the Assaluyeh gas refineries and downstream petrochemical plants. It plays a crucial role in producing key energy products for the country. Roughly 40% of Iran’s gasoline output indirectly comes from gas condensate produced in this field and processed at the Persian Gulf Star Refinery. This central role makes South Pars the beating heart of Iran’s energy industry and the main pillar of fuel supply stability during the winter months.

As the main operator responsible for production, maintenance, and development of the South Pars field, Pars Oil and Gas Company oversees operations at the country’s largest source of natural gas. The company plays a central role in ensuring production stability, safeguarding national energy security, and meeting Iran’s strategic oil and gas goals.

Given South Pars’ vital role in winter gas supply and national energy security, Shana, Iran’s oil and energy news network, interviewed Alireza Sarmadi, director of production and operations at Pars Oil and Gas Company, about the progress, challenges, and the role of knowledge-based companies in this year’s overhaul project.

 Efficient operations, reduced maintenance time

Sarmadi explained that the overhaul began in late April and will continue through late October, with over 136,000 man-hours recorded and 12,700 work orders completed. “We planned maintenance for 35 out of 37 platforms, and so far, major repairs on 32 platforms have been completed successfully,” he said.

He added that about 1,200 workers are directly involved in each 14-day rotation cycle at sea, with all activities conducted under strict safety protocols and tight scheduling. “Thanks to careful planning by the Oil Ministry and Pars Oil and Gas Company, there has been no interruption in gas production. Even a small delay could affect the national gas balance and power plant fuel reserves, but this year all operations have been executed on time — and in some cases, ahead of schedule.”

 Technical challenges, key achievements

Asked about challenges faced during the overhaul, Sarmadi said, “Our goal was to shorten the maintenance period through better organization and planning. Some major projects — such as replacing safety valves and emergency power (UPS) systems on Platforms 6, 7, and 8 — required more time, but with the help of domestic contractors, they were completed quickly.”

He noted that reducing repair time helped boost gas output during the warm months and improved liquid fuel storage for power plants ahead of winter.

Among this year’s key technical achievements, Sarmadi highlighted the replacement of 32-inch emergency shut-off valves on Platforms 9 and 10. “These valves must instantly cut the connection to subsea pipelines in case of an emergency. For several years, they hadn’t been working properly, but through careful planning and the use of specialized vessels, we managed to replace them with new equipment.”

Another major step was installing pressure equalization systems on Platforms 4 and 5, as well as 6, 7, and 8. “Previously, when production stopped on these platforms, it could take up to 12–24 hours to bring wells back online. With the new system, production can resume within one to two hours,” he said.

 Domestic manufacturing, knowledge-based collaboration

Despite the difficulties posed by international sanctions, Sarmadi emphasized that these challenges have strengthened Iran’s reliance on domestic expertise. “Almost all spare parts and equipment for the platforms are now produced by Iranian manufacturers and knowledge-based companies,” he said.

“This year, new emergency power systems designed and built by domestic firms replaced old units during the short overhaul period,” he added. “Previously, some platforms faced shutdowns in winter due to aging power systems, and importing replacements was nearly impossible. Now, thanks to local innovation, we’ve installed new systems that ensure steady production.”

 Maintaining operations during wartime disruptions

Referring to the 12-day war and threats from the Israeli regime, Sarmadi said, “These incidents could have caused serious challenges for our gas production, but with careful planning, the determination of our staff, and divine support, we didn’t experience even one hour of downtime.”

He explained that during those tense days, travel restrictions made logistics extremely difficult: “Flights and helicopter transfers were suspended, and in some cases, our colleagues spent more than 48 hours traveling to reach the platforms. Despite all that, they showed exceptional commitment and ensured that operations continued without interruption.”

 Safety performance, HSE measures

Sarmadi praised the company’s health, safety, and environment (HSE) teams for their constant presence and supervision throughout the project. “So far, all overhaul operations this year have been completed without a single accident,” he said. “Each platform had its own tailored safety plan, and workers received daily briefings and training to minimize risks. The result was the successful completion of maintenance on 32 offshore platforms with zero incidents.”

 Increasing gas recovery, field optimization

“As we approach the second half of South Pars’ operational life, natural pressure decline is inevitable,” Sarmadi said. “To counter this, we have launched several projects aimed at enhancing gas recovery.”

The first phase of this program includes drilling 35 new infill wells with the participation of four domestic contractors. “Several of these wells are already in production,” he said. “Once this phase is complete, a second phase will begin to compensate for production declines. In parallel, we are performing acidizing operations on older wells and carrying out other development measures.”

 Life at sea, hidden challenges

Sarmadi also highlighted the human side of offshore work: “Life on the platforms is completely different from life onshore. Our colleagues spend 14 days away from their families, working 100 kilometers offshore under harsh weather conditions. The physical and emotional strain is immense. Sometimes emergencies happen in their families, but they cannot be there. These sacrifices are rarely visible to the public, and we hope people and officials appreciate their dedication and that of their families.”

 A message to the public

“As winter approaches, saving gas is the greatest help people can give to the country’s energy system,” Sarmadi said. “If everyone manages their energy consumption, we can supply more gas to power plants and industries, creating greater value for the nation.”