Page 10 - MEOG Week 05 2021

MEOG PROJECTS & COMPANIES MEOG

in February 2017 at 15,000 bpd. In 2019, output Following the discovery of oil at Azar and the
averaged 31,000 bpd. nearby Changuleh field, Norsk Hydro was joined
This early production phase has included the by Russia’s Lukoil in developing the site.
drilling of nine wells and the laying of 129 km of Lukoil pulled out of its 25% stake in the entire
pipelines. Anaran block in 2008/9 after various sanctions
Output is transported by pipeline to process- by the US and EU countries were imposed, fol-
ing facilities at Dehloran oilfield. lowed by the Norwegian company’s withdrawal
Azar is located in the onshore Anaran block, from its 75% stake in 2011, after the sanctions
which covers 3,500 square km. It was discov- were intensified.
ered in April 2000 following the block’s award to Shortly after the announcement of the Joint
Norsk Hydro in the 1998 licensing round. Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in
The field holds an estimated 2.5bn barrels of 2015, various IOCs signed memoranda of
oil in place (OIP), with combined recoverable oil understanding (MoUs) for fields in the Anaran
and gas reserves estimated at 425-475mn barrels. block, either for single or multiple fields, includ-
Azar’s crude has an API gravity of 33, but its ing Norway’s DNO, Thailand’s PTTEP and Rus-
high sulphur content necessitates the use of spe- sia’s Gazprom Neft and Lukoil.
cialised technology and machinery made from However, these were all scrapped when the
advanced alloys. US backed out of the deal.™

P10 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 05 03•February•2021