South Pars/North Dome Gas-Condensate field

The field is below the seabed at a water depth of , and consists of two independent gas-bearing formations: Kangan (Triassic) and Upper Dalan (Permian). Each formation is divided into two different reservoir layers, separated by impermeable barriers. The field consists of four independent reservoir layers K1, K2, K3, and K4. The K1 and K3 units are mainly composed of dolomites and anhydrites, while K2 and K4, which constitute major gas reservoirs, comprise limestone and dolomite. A massive anhydrite (the Nar member) separates the K4 from the underlying K5 unit which has poor reservoir qualities. The gross pay zone in the South Pars field is approximately 450 m thick, extending from depths of approximately 2750 to 3200 m. Reservoir strata dip gently to the NE. The average thickness of the reservoir units declines from South Pars (some ) to North field (). As in other reservoir structures in neighboring areas, the reservoir in the Qatar Arch is cut by a set of NNW-SSE trending faults. The field is a part of the N-trending Qatar Arch structural feature that is bounded by the Zagros fold and thrust belt to the north and northeast. In the field, gas accumulation is mostly limited to the Permian–Triassic stratigraphic units. These units known as the Kangan–Dalan Formations constitute very extensive natural gas reservoirs in the field and Persian Gulf area, which composed of carbonate–evaporite series also known as the Khuff Formation. Permian–Early Triassic has been divided into Faraghan (Early Permian), Dalan (Late Permian) and Kangan (Early Triassic) Formations. ==Reserves==

According to International Energy Agency (IEA) in 2008, the combined structure is the world's largest gas field. With in place volumes equivalent to of oil (310 billion BOE of gas and 50 billion BOE of natural gas condensate) the field is the world's biggest conventional hydrocarbon accumulation. The field recoverable gas reserve is equivalent to some of oil and it also holds about of recoverable condensate corresponding of about of oil equivalent recoverable hydrocarbons. The gas recovery factor of the field is about 70%, corresponding to roughly of total recoverable gas reserves, which is about 19% of world recoverable gas reserves. The estimates for the Iranian section are of natural gas in place and around of recoverable gas which stands for 36% of Iran's total proven gas reserves and 5.6% of the world's proven gas reserves as of 2007. Note: 1 km3 = 1,000,000,000 m3 = 1 billion m3 = 1 trillion litres However, since the field is a common field and the reservoir is highly homogeneous, the ultimate recoverable reserves of each country may vary from this technical assessment which only considers the static data and does not include rate of gas migration. So, it is better to say that the ultimate recoverable reserves of each country would be a factor of cumulative gas production by each of them. The Iranian section also holds of condensate in place of which some are believed to be recoverable, while Qatari section believed to contains some of condensate in place and at least some of recoverable condensate. The field is rich in liquids and yields approximately of condensate per of gas. It has also very high level of well productivity which in average stands for per day per well, while the average natural gas well productivity in Iran is 1.5 million cubic meters per day per well. Reserve uncertainties In 2005, QatarEnergy became worried the North Dome's reserves were being developed too quickly, which could reduce reservoir pressure and possibly damage its long-term production potential. In early 2005, the government placed a moratorium on additional development projects at the North Dome pending a study of the field's reservoirs. This assessment is not expected to end until after 2009, meaning new projects are unlikely to be signed before 2010. However, this did not affect projects approved or underway before the moratorium. The 2005 moratorium by Qatar and the subsequent extension of that raised some questions about the actual proven reserves in Qatari side of the field. There was some news in 2006 that ConocoPhillips drilled unexpectedly dry holes in the North Field and this event was at least a partial catalyst for a revamped perspective on the North field structure and potential. Further supporting evidence for skepticism about the real scale of Qatari's reserves came from the 2008 exploration round in Qatar to target exploration of gas in the pre-Khuff formation. Even one of the blocks is exactly located beneath the North Dome Field. On 29 October 2007, Qatargas CEO Faisal Al Suwaidi stated that the 5-year moratorium on new North Field gas development projects, imposed in 2005, could be extended to 2011 or 2012. QatarEnergy issued a bond prospectus on the 5th of July 2021. This bond issue, which was managed by, amongst others Deutsche Bank and J.P. Morgan included proven and confirmed reserve numbers for 2020 of 818.6 and 1756.1 Tcf respectively. QatarEnergy is the only entity that uses the terminology of confirmed reserves and does not provide a definition for it. The QatarEnergy confidential business plan for 2024 contains a production forecast which implies proven reserves of some 110 Tcf and contingent resources of 85 Tcf as of 2023. No forecast associated with the expansion projects are included in these numbers. ==South Pars development==

facilities near Asaluyeh The South Pars Field was discovered in 1990 by National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC). Each of the phases is estimated to have an average capital spend of around US$1.5 billion, and most will be led by foreign oil firms working in partnership with local companies. The government of Ahmadinejad, who came to power in 2005, favoured local firms over foreign companies in the energy and other sectors. By the beginning of 2008, phases 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 had been brought to production and by the end of 2008, phases 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 were planned to be on stream. Phases 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 27 and 28 were under different development stages. On 18 March 2026, during the 2026 Iran war, phases of the Iranian South Pars gas field were struck by an Israeli airstrike. Following the strike, several gas phases were closed. Project finance As of December 2010, about $30 billion had been invested in South Pars gas fields' development plan. It was estimated that the amount would reach over $40 billion by 2015. In 2024, Iran scheduled a $70 billion plan to maintain gas pressure and keep vital petrol production. Economic studies showed with the operation of each South Pars phase, one percent was added to the country's gross domestic product (GDP), while phase 12 was expected to add more than three percent of GDP. South Pars phases visits south Pars Gas field on January 25, 2002. As at 2012, some 400 Iranian companies were taking part in the development of the South Pars gas field through supplying equipment to related projects. • Phase 1 was developed by Petropars to produce per day of natural gas, of condensate, 1500 tons of LPG per day plus 200 tons of sulfur per day. • Phases 2 and 3 were developed by a consortium of Total S.A., Petronas and Gazprom to produce per day of natural gas, of condensate, 3000 tons of LPG per day plus 400 tons of sulfur per day. It came online in March 2003. • Phases 4 and 5 were developed by Eni and Petropars, to produce per day of rich natural gas, per day of ethane, of condensate, 3000 tons of LPG per day plus 400 tons of sulfur per day. • Phases 6, 7 and 8 being developed by Petropars and Statoil to produce lean gas for re-injection into the Aghajari oilfield, and heavy gas and condensate for export. It involves construction of three offshore platforms in addition to the land based facilities. Statoil is developing the offshore platforms while Petropars is developing the land based facilities. A pipe will be laid from each platform to the coast. These phases will produce per day of natural gas, of ethane, of condensate, 4500 tons of LPG per day plus 600 tons of sulfur per day. • Phases 9 and 10 being developed by a joint venture of GS of South Korea, Oil Industries Engineering and Construction Company (OIEC Group) and Iranian Offshore Engineering and Construction Company (IOEC), in September 2002. The share of Iranian players in this contract exceeds 60%. These phases produce per day of natural gas, per day of ethane, of condensate, 3000 tons of LPG per day plus 400 tons of sulfur per day. Phases 9 & 10 were inaugurated by President Ahmadinejad in March 2009. • Phase 11 will produce LNG through the Pars LNG project. The project was awarded to China National Petroleum Corporation in 2010 after that France's Total S.A. was excluded from the project by Iran. Finally in December 2016, the memorandum of understanding for development of this phase has been awarded to a consortium of Total from France, CNPC from China and Petropars from Iran. After September 2021, the development plans of this gas field continued by entrusting the continuation of the work to Iranian companies, including National Oil Company, Petropars, Pars Oil and Gas and Marine Facilities. In June 2023, the 3,200-ton platform, the heaviest in the South Pars field, was moved and installed in an unprecedented operation by Iranian experts, and gas production from this phase started. • Phase 12 development begin carried out by Petropars as a LNG project. This phase will produce per day of rich natural gas, of ethane, of natural gas condensate, 3000 tons of LPG per day plus 400 tons of sulfur per day. Venezuela’s state-owned oil company Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA) will finance 10% of the $7.8 billion project. Angola’s Sonangol Group has also been awarded a 20% stake in phase 12 project. The Iranian Khatam-ol-Osea Consortium is made up of several large Iranian companies, namely Khatam al-Anbiya Construction Headquarters, OIEC, SADRA, ISOICO, IDRO and NIDC. The contract to develop phase 13 was signed with a consortium comprising Mapna, SADRA and Petro Pidar Iranian companies and the phase 14 with another consortia consisting of IDRO, NIDC, Machine Sazi Arak (MSA) and Iranian Offshore Engineering and Construction Company (IOEC). • Phases 15 and 16 development was awarded to Khatam al-Anbiya Construction Headquarters. These phases will produce per day of natural gas, of ethane, of natural gas condensate, 3,000 tons of LPG per day plus 400 tons of sulfur per day. In July 2010, the project was transferred to Iran Shipbuilding & Offshore Industries Complex. At that time, the $2 billion project was already 50% complete. Phase 15 & 16 will be completed by March 2012. • Phases 17 and 18 development was assigned to a consortium of OIEC, IOEC and IDRO. These phases produce per day of natural gas, of ethane, of natural gas condensate, 3,000 tons of LPG per day plus 400 tons of sulfur per day. Phases 17 & 18 were inaugurated by President Hassan Rouhani in April 2017. • Phase 19 development was awarded to Petropars. • Phases 20 and 21 development was awarded to OIEC Group. per day of natural gas, of ethane, of natural gas condensate, 3,000 tons of LPG per day plus 400 tons of sulfur per day. Phases 20 & 21 were inaugurated by President Hassan Rouhani in April 2017. • Phases 22, 23 and 24 were awarded to Khatam al-Anbiya Construction Headquarters, Petro Sina Arian and SADRA and are located in the north-eastern frontier of the field. The aim of phases 22, 23 and 24 development is to produce per day of natural gas, of natural gas condensate, and 300 tons of sulfur per day. The three phases also are designed to produce 800,000 tons of LNG and 750,000 tons of ethane per year. Scale and impacts of delays By the end of 2008, Qatar's cumulative production from the field was two times higher than Iran's cumulative production from the field. Qatar produced about of natural gas in the period of 1997 to 2008, while Iran produced about of natural gas in the period of 2003 to 2008. The 2:1 ratio of Qatar's cumulative gas production from the field to Iran's is forecasted to continue at least for the short term: by the end of 2011, Qatar's total cumulative production from the field will reach of natural gas, while Iran's will stand at of natural gas in the same year. The ratio is maintained mainly because Qatar's annual production is almost twice the Iranian production level. In 2011, Qatar will reach an annual production capacity of natural gas per year, while in that year Iran's production capacity will reach per year. If Iran could implement all of its South Pars planned development projects on time, then it would reach the production capacity of of natural gas per year, not earlier than 2015. The most important impact of delays and lower production in Iranian side would be migration of gas to the Qatari part and a loss of condensate yield due to decreased field pressure. ==North Dome development==

The North Dome, also known as North Field, was discovered in 1971, Subsequent phases of the North field development provided feedstock to LNG plants at Ras Laffan Industrial City. By 2025, North Field through Ras Laffan produced 77 million tonnes of LNG, expected to increase to 126 million tonnes by 2027. As of early 2026, before the beginning of the US-Iran war, Qatar has produced approximately 18.5 billion cubic feet per day from the field, accounting for around 80% of Qatari government revenues, and supplying around 20% of the world's LNG. Qatar's gas to liquids (GTL) industry Oryx GTL (Sasol) The ORYX GTL plant was commissioned in early 2007, as the first operational GTL plant in Qatar. The plant nameplate capacity is , however, the plant has faced technical challenges and did not reach full capacity during the first year of operation. Modifications recommended by Sasol assist with overcoming this shortfall and production capacity was reached/ maintained from 2009 onwards. The plant uses of natural gas from the Al Khaleej Gas project. The ORYX GTL project uses Sasol's Slurry Phase Distillate (SPD) process. Pearl GTL (Shell) The project is under construction and will be the world's largest GTL plant which will have the capacity of of middle distillates and significant quantities of LPG and condensate. The first of two GTL trains is planned to start production in 2011. Around of natural gas will be supplied from the North field to the project. Shell has 100% of the equity in the integrated upstream and plant project. In March 2026, the plant was damaged by an attack from Iran. Table 3. North Field production plan (million cubic feet per day). Table sources: QatarGas, QatarEnergy and internet ==Damage during the 2026 Iran war==

On April 6, 2026, the Defense Minister revealed that Israel had launched an attack on Iran's petrochemical facility in Assaluyeh. Due to these assaults, companies providing electricity, water, and oxygen to Assaluyeh were targeted; however, Pars Petrochemical Company remained unharmed. ==See also==