VOL. XLVI

No 2

13-January-2003

IRAN

Balal Production Testing Under Way As Pipeline Repairs Completed

TotalFinaElf has begun production testing in Balal field offshore Iran and expects to begin commercial production imminently. The test production has reached a rate of 20,000 b/d of 41-42º API oil from two wells, and is intended to be built up to 40,000 b/d by the summer as a further three production wells are brought on-line. The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) has typically required a...