Increased focus on the development of offshore hydrocarbon reserves in Iran is providing a positive outlook for Fugro Survey (Middle East) Ltd, according to a company official.

In an increasingly competitive market, Fugro Survey is seeing the benefits of upstream investments in Iran, in an otherwise relatively mature region, said general manager Ian Roberts.

Although the company has been operating in Iran since 1978, the greatest levels of activity have been achieved since 1997, when the so-called 'buy-back' formula generated a resurgence in the country's oil and gas industry. Spending on oilfields has increased, to boost production and repair war-damaged facilities, while massive offshore gas reserves are being rapidly developed.

Fugro is involved in all phases of the life of many of Iran's offshore oilfields, from seismic exploration to pre-drill hazard surveys, geotechnical investigations, rig moves, seabed surveys for pipeline design, through to construction support and facilities inspection.

The company is providing the survey support for the development of the huge South Pars gas field, said Roberts, who pointed out that Fugro has a survey ship working in South Pars and has recently been awarded contracts to support the drilling programs of a number of clients working the field. Fugro is also supporting the development of many of Iran's other offshore oilfields.

Fugro supports and resources its operations in Iran from its Middle Eastern base in Abu Dhabi, UAE. While the company has a representative office in Tehran, Roberts has said that it is unlikely to establish an operational base in the country, due primarily to the specialised nature of the survey business, the relatively small size of the Middle East market, and its well-established position in Abu Dhabi. However, Fugro has a business partner in Iran and is exploring ways to expand its joint interests, he explained.

The upbeat assessment of prospects in Iran follows an outstanding year 2000 for the company elsewhere in the region.

Fugro conducted large geophysical surveys in Qatar, the UAE and offshore Pakistan, provided precise positioning and ROV support during the installation of pipelines and platforms in Iran and Qatar and worked with an ROV partner to perform detailed inspection of subsea pipelines throughout the Middle East.

The company continues to focus on expanding its services to support the buoyant market, while at the same time providing its customers with the quality and service that they expect from Fugro, explained the general manager.

Included in this policy is the introduction of leading-edge technologies to the market, drawing on the experience and expertise of the world's largest survey company, Netherlands-based Fugro Survey.

For example, Fugro Middle East is introducing Fugro's imaging techniques to provide engineers with 3D views of the seabed, allowing them to visualise the terrain and better understand how to design pipelines and where to place subsea structures, he added.

New techniques have been well received by Fugro's clients, according to Roberts, and their ongoing development is expected to further cement the company's leading position in the region.