Iran's oil industry has faced many challenges in recent years but has managed to set unprecedented records in crude oil production by adopting appropriate measures. According to assessments, Iran's crude oil production in 2024 increased by 10 percent compared to 2023, reaching 3.5 million barrels per day, and it is expected that this figure will rise to 3.6 million barrels per day in 2025.
Stabilization and Increase of Production Capacity
The National Iranian Oil Company has achieved the highest crude oil production record in over seven years by focusing on development projects and maintaining production in the past two years. Hamid Bourd, the head of the Ministry of Oil, has announced that more than 200,000 barrels have been added to the daily production capacity. This increase is clearly visible not only in the statistics but also in sustainable and value-creating production.
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Increase in Exports and Supply for Refineries
Reza Khailayi, the director of oil and gas production supervision at the National Iranian Oil Company, has announced that the produced crude oil has been exported to target markets in addition to supplying domestic refineries. Since the beginning of the fourteenth government, approximately 230,000 barrels have been added to the country's crude oil production capacity daily, and crude oil production in January 2025 has increased by 230,000 barrels per day compared to the early days of the government's term.
Analysis of oil fields shows that multiple projects in dry areas and the West Karun region have been the main factors behind this sustainable growth. Drilling and bringing 47 wells into operation in the shared Azadegan field, along with the completion and commissioning of 28 new wells, have added approximately 51,000 barrels to the production capacity daily.
Additionally, new wells have entered production in the Darquain, Yadavaran, and Dehloran fields, and through repair services and revitalization of old wells, approximately 49,000 barrels have been added to the country's production daily. These actions demonstrate the capabilities of Iran's oil industry in maintaining and increasing production capacity under sanctions.
Development Projects and Technical Capabilities
Another success of the oil industry includes an increase of 30,000 barrels from the Sepehr and Jofeir fields. By drilling eight new wells and equipping them with downhole pumps, oil production in this area has significantly increased. Furthermore, the launch of the centralized desalting unit in Ahvaz with a capacity of 250,000 barrels of salty crude oil has created a reliable capacity for processing oil produced from the large Ahvaz field and neighboring fields.
However, sustaining the production leap would have been impossible without addressing processing bottlenecks and surface issues. The National Iranian Oil Company has implemented large industrial projects in the processing and desalting sectors, leading to improved conditions and increased sustainable crude oil production.
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