Publish Date: 5 December 2010 - 19:08

TEHRAN, Dec. 5 (MNA) – Iran will soon start drilling offshore wells at Arash gas field in the Persian Gulf, Iranian Offshore Oil Company’s managing director said here on Sunday.

 Mahmoud Zirakchianzadeh added that Iran plans to drill 4 wells at the field.

 He went on to note that currently a drilling jacket has been constructed, installed and came on stream at the Arash gas field.

 Arash gas field, which contains 20 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, is shared between Iran and Kuwait.

 "Iran has proposed that development, investment, production and management ... be done on a joint basis by the parties involved," Shana news agency quoted Zirakchianzadeh as saying in March.

 Zirakchianzadeh added: "The Iranian Offshore Oil Company has raised the proposal of 'partnership instead of competition’ for the development of the Arash field as well as other joint hydrocarbon fields."

 MF/SJ

END

MNA