Iran said it plans to increase oil output in several Persian Gulf oilfields, including those of Soroush and Norouz, Fars News Agency reported.

Director of the Research and Technology Department at the National Iranian Offshore Oil Company (NIOOC) Jalal Mousavi said that NIOOC plans to increase oil production at ten fields, including Soroush, Nourouz, Abuzar, Salman and Balal.

Soroush and Norouz oil fields with 7.5 and 1.9 billion barrels of oil-in-place reserves respectively are among the largest oilfields in the western parts of the Persian Gulf.

As regards Soroush oilfield, Mousavi said research studies on the field started sooner than scheduled to update the foreign advisory company engaged in the development of the field.

More than 30 tests are expected to be carried out on reservoirs of Soroush oilfield and the results will be passed on to the advisory firm, Mousavi said.

The Iranian oil official noted that appraisals of other oilfields will begin once preliminary measures have been taken.