Iran produced more than 10.3 billion cubic meters of natural gas from its giant South Pars gas field during the first three months of the Iranian year, the Iranian oil ministry's official Shana news Web site reported Monday.
Mohammad-Reza Joulaei, head of production control affairs at South Pars Gas Co., said about 9.3 billion cubic meters of the gas were injected into Iran's natural gas network in the first quarter, Shana said. The Iranian year began March 21.
During the same period, 14.7 million barrels of natural gas condensates were produced in South Pars refineries and exported to global markets, Joulaei said, according to Shana.
Ethane production for the first quarter surged to above 94,000 tons, reflecting a 100% increase on the same period in 2007, Shana cited the company official as saying.
"South Pars refineries produced 249,000 tons of liquid gas such as butane and propane during the three months, rising 55% compared to last year," Joulaei said, adding that "some 47,000 tons of sulfur were produced during the time," according to Shana.