Chemical Methods of Oil Production Predicted to Have Great Potential
Gazprom Neft, Tatneft and Zarubezhneft are leaders in this area.
The potential for the use of chemical methods of enhanced oil recovery (CMEOR) in Russia is estimated at more than 14 billion tons of oil. This was stated by Olga CHEBYSHEVA, Director for Development of CMEOR at Gazpromneft – Technological Partnerships. Her speech was given at the International Conference “Chemical Methods of Enhanced Oil Recovery: An Industry Challenge” (Kazan, May 29-31).
“This figure is estimated at 300 million tons based on the resource base of Gazprom Neft,” she added. “This estimate is only for surfactants and surfactant-polymer flooding. Both figures are determined based on geological reserves.”
The company has developed solutions that are unique to the Russian Federation, such as the use of adsorption inhibitors based on surfactants, treatment of low-permeability formations with specialized surfactants, surfactant compositions, etc. The development of alternative technologies has also begun.
At the same time, it is planned to localize the production of reagents and injection equipment within the perimeter of partner companies. “The next step, together with partners and the Ministry of Finance, is the transition from dollar quotations to rubles for the cost of reagents,” Chebysheva said.
Gazprom Neft also launched a full-scale polymer flooding project in 2023. Thanks to this, the oil recovery factor (ORF) at some fields increased by up to 21%.
“New surfactant-polymer flooding projects are ready for launch,” said the Development Director of KhMUN. “We hope that next year the State Reserves Commission (GKZ) will see this additional production in its reports.”
The level of development of chemical methods for increasing oil recovery in Russia is mature, the expert assessed. “All vertically integrated oil companies are at the same stage of maturity and development and implementation of technologies,” she believes. “Gazprom Neft, Tatneft and Zarubezhneft are the undisputed leaders in surfactant-polymer flooding.” At the same time, LUKOIL, Rosneft and Gazprom Neft have already completed pilot industrial work on the development of polymer flooding technologies.
