Slavneft-Megionneftegaz: Launches iFrac To Reduce the Costs of Multi Stage Fracturing
Slavneft-Megionneftegaz has developed and implemented an innovative method for the industry to perform operations to improve well productivity. The technology opens up new perspectives for the efficient development of hard-to-recover reserves.
The innovative method, called iFrac, significantly reduces the cost of performing repeated multi-stage hydraulic fracturing (MSHF) ** in horizontal wells. Unlike standard approaches, it can be applied at great depths, including in the development of the Achimov deposits, Jurassic strata and the Bazhenov formation. This expands the company’s ability to engage in the development of hard-to-recover reserves that were previously considered unprofitable.
The method is based on the change in the stress of rocks after high pressure injection into the wellbore of a fluid consisting of sand, water and a food additive – guar gum. Thanks to an innovative approach, now the company’s specialists can not only manage multistage hydraulic fracturing, but also predict the location of fractures in the rock with high accuracy, ensuring oil flow into the well through them.
Another important advantage of the innovative technology is a significant reduction in the timing of the multistage hydraulic fracturing. Now the entire stimulation operation can be carried out in 21 days, whereas previously it took almost two months. The method does not require the use of complex expensive equipment and chemical reagents, and also excludes dependence on imports.
The new approach has already proven to be highly cost effective. Thus, the total cost of re-fracturing has decreased by 2-2.5 times, while the productivity of wells is increasing by 25-30%.
The uniqueness of the development has been confirmed by experts from the Federal Service for Intellectual Property. In December 2020, Slavneft-Megionneftegaz received a patent for an invention.
“Search, creation and implementation of innovative methods and technologies aimed at improving the efficiency of all production processes is one of the priorities of Slavneft-Megionneftegaz”. This allows us to successfully solve the most complex problems, including the involvement in the development of those subsoil areas, the production of which was previously considered unprofitable. Our specialists have once again confirmed not only their high research potential, but also their adherence to the corporate principles of efficiency, manufacturability and safety, “- Mikhail Cherevko, General Director of Slavneft-Megionneftegaz.
