Pana News Agency quoted Mr Hedayatollah Khademi MD of Iran's North Drilling Company as saying that Iran earned some USD 300 million from drilling 30 oil wells in Turkmenistan waters in the Caspian Sea during the past 5 years.

Mr Khademi said that the country has prepared comprehensive plans to carry out drilling operations and export technical and engineering services to different countries.

Mr Ahmad Qalebani MD of National Iranian Oil Company said that Iran plans to increase the number of its drilling rigs operating onshore and offshore oilfields by 36 units to reach 134 units by March 2014.

Mr Qalebani said that the country's daily oil and gas outputs should amount to five million barrels and 1.47 billion cubic meters by 2015. Some 2,500 oil and gas wells should be drilled and commissioned during Iran's fifth five year economic development plan (2010-2015).

(Sourced from www.panapress.com)