Iranian Offshore Engineering and Construction Company (IOEC) will commence offshore drilling operations at Phase 14 of t South Pars Gas Field by mid-July, said Iran Daily, quoting a top official.

Physical activities at the phase will begin once the first drilling rig is installed within a month, Farzad Ghazali, operator of the phase, was quoted in the report, which cited Shana.

A total of 22 wells are planned in the phase and drilling operations will take two and a half years to complete, he said.

Around $762.5 million has been invested in drilling the wells, he added.