Deputy Managing Director of the National Iranian Drilling Company (NIDC) Mehran Makvandi predicted completion of operations requires drilling of 60 thousand meters, Shana reported. He said two drilling rigs of the company were involved in drilling 12 developmental and one appraisal wells in the area. He said NIDC was engaged in implementation of the project under a 36 month turn key contract with Oil Engineering and Development Company (OEDEC). Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qassemi visited the gas field on Thursday, where he stressed the need for accelerating drilling operations in Kish gas field as the biggest independent gas field of the country. According to Qassemi, Kish gas field not only can meet domestic needs but is able to supply gas to the neighboring countries in the Persian Gulf. The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) Managing Director Ahmad Qalebani, who accompanied Qassemi during the visit, said development of the gas field is a top priority for his company. In place natural gas and associated gas reserves of the Kish gas field, located in Persian Gulf waters, South of Iran, are estimated at 66 trillion cubic feet and 514 million barrels respectively.