Iran has commenced the transfer of a colossal offshore rig to one of the key sections of its South Pars gas field, signaling progress in expanding the country’s natural gas production.

The 76-meter rig jacket, known as SPD11A and weighing 2,257 metric tons, was loaded onto a ship at a Persian Gulf coastal yard. Constructed over 15 months at the Bushehr-based Iran Marine Industrial Company (SADRA), the project cost an estimated 13.8 million euros.

Officials report that installation at Phase 11 of the South Pars field will take roughly 45 days starting in late October, with drilling operations on six wells expected to begin in January 2026. The drilling phase is projected to last two years before gas production can commence. Once operational, Phase 11 is expected to reach a peak output of 28 million cubic meters per day.

Phase 11 is widely regarded as the most technically challenging segment among the 28 phases on Iran’s side of South Pars, the world’s largest gas field that spans the maritime boundary between Iran and Qatar. Initially, a consortium led by French energy company Total was tasked with developing Phase 11, but sanctions imposed in 2018 halted foreign involvement. In August 2023, Iran announced it had begun production at the phase using domestic expertise.

South Pars plays a central role in Iran’s energy sector, supplying around 70% of the country’s natural gas and 40% of the feedstock for gasoline production. The field includes 40 offshore drilling rigs, hundreds of wells, and thousands of kilometers of underwater pipelines.