{"id":15106,"date":"2025-08-13T03:30:50","date_gmt":"2025-08-13T03:30:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/roydadnaft.ir\/English\/?p=15106"},"modified":"2025-08-13T03:30:50","modified_gmt":"2025-08-13T03:30:50","slug":"nisoc-undertakes-overhaul-on-more-than-100-process-units","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/roydadnaft.ir\/English\/15106\/","title":{"rendered":"NISOC undertakes overhaul on more than 100 process units"},"content":{"rendered":"

RoydadNaft – <\/a><\/span>\u00a0The National Iranian South Oilfields Co. (NISOC) has begun major overhauls on more than 100 processing units since early April, with 27 of them prioritized for their direct impact on oil production, the company\u2019s head of industrial equipment and process machinery maintenance said.<\/p>\n

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Five units have already been completed, and the rest are progressing at what officials call an appropriate pace.<\/p>\n

Comprehensive maintenance, known in the industry as overhauling, is considered a cornerstone of production stability in Iran\u2019s oil sector \u2014 particularly at NISOC, which produces more than 85% of the country\u2019s crude. With aging infrastructure, sanctions-related supply constraints, and the need to preserve output capacity, the company has intensified preventive and scheduled maintenance programs in recent years.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe slightest production drop \u2014 even for a moment \u2014 can have far-reaching consequences for the nation\u2019s energy supply, economy, and exports,\u201d said Omid Kiani, the company\u2019s maintenance chief.<\/p>\n

From a total of about 300 process units slated for overhaul in the current Iranian year, work has started on more than 100, including preheaters, electrostatic desalters, hydrogen sulfide removal towers, and coalescer tanks. Summer is considered the optimal season for overhauls in the south, where hot weather spans about seven months a year, allowing 60% to 70% of annual work to be concentrated in that period.<\/p>\n

Overhauls cover fixed process equipment and heavy-duty machinery above 4,000 horsepower, including turbines, compressors, pumps, and high-voltage motors. Heavy equipment is repaired under direct supervision of the maintenance department, while lighter machinery is handled by operating companies.<\/p>\n

NISOC operates one of the largest process machinery fleets in the Middle East, including decades-old Rolls-Royce, Solar and GE turbines, Sulzer compressors, and Dutch-made units. Despite sanctions, in-house specialists have kept them operational.<\/p>\n

In the first six months of the year, 12 gas compression stations and gas and LPG plants were assigned for overhaul, with seven already completed \u2014 four ahead of schedule. These efforts, officials say, have reduced gas flaring, improved environmental performance, and boosted efficiency.<\/p>\n

The company has also adopted new techniques, such as rope access and mobile structures, to replace traditional scaffolding inside large tanks, cutting preparation time from months to weeks.<\/p>\n

Some projects have moved beyond maintenance into full reconstruction, including the restoration of turbines with more than 200,000 operating hours \u2014 well beyond the manufacturer\u2019s recommended limit.<\/p>\n

NISOC also champions domestic manufacturing, collaborating with knowledge-based firms to produce turbine blades with specialized coatings.<\/p>\n

Given the limited supply of qualified turbine technicians \u2014 training takes three to five years \u2014 the company stresses workforce development. The closure of several vocational schools in the past, Kiani said, was a setback for the industry.<\/p>\n

Despite resource constraints, NISOC maintains strict safety protocols, reporting no fatalities in overhaul projects last year. The company pairs veteran supervisors with younger engineers to ensure skills are passed on, while also offering incentives to keep morale high.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur greatest asset is motivated, skilled people,\u201d Kiani said. \u201cThat\u2019s what ensures the quality and continuity of these operations.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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