VOL. XLV

No 18

6-May-2002

IRAN

BalalField Start-Up Expected Towards Year-End

Operator TotalFinaElf now expects to start commercial productionfrom the Balal field in the Gulf during November orDecember, MEES understands. The company is developing the field under abuyback contract with the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), but the projectsuffered delays after a pipeline laid in the field in 1976 during earlierdevelopment work, and which was intended to be used by TotalFinaElf,was found to be...