The CEO of the Iranian Central Oil Fields Company (ICOFC) said upstream plans were under way to enhance the crude oil and natural gas output of Ilam Province in western Iran.

Speaking to Shana on the sidelines of a meeting with a number of the members of the parliament’s energy committee, Ramin Hatami said more than 12 billion barrels of oil in-place is in the province’s joint oil fields of which 1.1 billion barrels have been extracted from the province"s oil reserves, and more than 75% of its recoverable oil reserves still remain.

He pointed to the joint fields of Azar, Changoleh, Aban, Paydar Gharb and Dehloran, which are located in Ilam province, and added: "The Azar field development plan is about to be put into operation.”

Hatami stated that contract negotiations for the development of Changoleh field have been finalized, adding: "The development of Aban and Paydar Gharb fields in the form of a new model of oil contracts is being implemented by the consortium of the contracting party."

He further said that a gas compressor was under construction which would gas associated petroleum gas in Dehloran and Danan fields and provide feedstock for the NGL 3100 project which has so far made 50% progress.