Iran is in talks with companies from Norway, the Netherlands and the UK which have applied for research studies on the Caspian Sea gas and oil fields, a report said.

However, no contract has yet been signed, Gholamreza Manouchehri, deputy head of National Iranians Oil Company (NIOC) was quoted as saying in the Iran Daily report, which cited Irna.

NIOC, which is conducting projects to launch oil and gas exploration activities in the Caspian Sea, has offered several investment projects to international oil firms, the report said.

Manouchehri said that more hydrocarbon reserves are likely to be explored in the offshore SardarJangal field in northern Iran as rigs have been installed in the second well of the Caspian Sea reservoir.

Separately, the newspaper reported that Iran is negotiating with Italian energy firm Eni on investing in Shiraz Pars Refinery project, quoting Iran's deputy oil minister.

Talks are underway with Eni on cooperation and investment in the gas condensate refinery project, said Abbas Kazemi who also heads the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company, the report said, citing Mehr News Agency.