“The gas emitted at the water level was ignited by lightning 15 km from the platform. The fire was contained after production was shut down at the platform and planning for repair work has begun,” Pars Oil and Gas Company said in a statement.

The South Pars field covers an area of 500 square miles and is located 3,000m below the seabed at a water depth of 65m.

The field accounts for 10% of the world’s total gas reserves, 60% of which belong to Iran. The country’s portion of the field contains an estimated 436 trillion cubic feet. (ILKHA)