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June 29, 2025 -- Iran has begun gas exports from the third sweetening train of the Phase 14 refinery at the South Pars gas field. Credit: Tehran Times

The Phase 14 onshore refinery is situated within the South Pars Special Economic Energy Zone, approximately 15 km east of Bandar Kangan in Bushehr province’s Tombak area. It lies some 105 km inland from the offshore South Pars gas platforms, receiving feed via two 210 km undersea pipelines.

Feedstocks

• Sour gas extracted from 44 offshore wells in South Pars Gas Field Phase 14
• Delivered onshore through dual 36-inch, 210 km subsea pipelines
• Contains methane, heavier hydrocarbons (condensate precursors), hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), and carbon dioxide (CO₂)

Processing Capacities

Key Processing Units & Technologies

1. Sweetening Trains
   • Four parallel amine-based gas sweetening units
   • Remove H₂S/CO₂ to meet pipeline gas specifications
   • Reclaim amine solvents via regenerators and reclaimers
2. Condensate Stabilization
   • Two-stage stabilization towers
   • Strips light ends to yield stabilized condensate suitable for export or further refining
3. Sulfur Recovery Units (SRUs)
   • Claus process followed by tail-gas treating
   • Produce elemental sulfur for commercial sale or internal use
4. LPG Fractionation and Storage
   • Fractionation train to separate propane and butane
   • Storage spheres and refrigerated bullet tanks for export-grade LPG
5. Ethane Recovery
   • Cryogenic demethanizer and deethanizer columns
   • Supplies ethane to downstream petrochemical complexes
6. Utilities & Offsites
   • 220 kV electrical substation tied to national grid
   • Hot oil heating loops, cooling water systems, and flare network
   • Wastewater treatment with gas-liquid separators and effluent polishing

Domestic Content & Integration

• Over 70% of equipment and engineering services sourced domestically
• Directly connected to Iran’s national gas pipeline network for distribution
• Feedstock linkage to onshore pipelines enables continuous supply stability

References

1. Development of South Pars gas field phase 14, onshore facilities. Petropars Operation & Management Company (POMC)
2. Mar 3, 2023. Iran inaugurates the 18.3 bcm/year South Pars phase 14 refinery. Enerdata 
3. Jun 29, 2025. Gas exports begin from 3rd sweetening train of South Pars phase 14 refinery. Tehran Times