TATNEFT Produces 10 Million Tons of Super-Viscous Oil
Since the beginning of development, TATNEFT has produced 10 million tons of extra-viscous oil (HVO).
TATNEFT began production of EHV in 2006, for the first time in Russia introducing its own development technologies based on steam gravity drainage by twin horizontal wells. Subsequently, a transition was made to a more efficient and technological drilling of single-head horizontal wells.
The object of industrial development of EHV in the fields is the Sheshminskiy horizon of the Ufa stage, which lies at depths from 60 to 200 m.
At present, the total operating fund includes 1046 wells (482 producing, 480 injection, 84 steam cyclic). The overhaul period for wells is 1140 days.
When implementing the technology of thermal steam stimulation, the Company uses methods of steam gravity drainage and cyclic steam stimulation.
When using the method of steam gravity drainage at a distance of five meters in the vertical plane, two parallel horizontal wells are drilled – the upper steam injection and the lower production. Cyclic steam stimulation method involves the drilling of one horizontal well, operated in a cyclic mode of steam injection and product withdrawal.
The EHV production department, created in 2016, allowed the Company to consolidate its experience in this area and carry out a wider implementation and search for solutions to increase the efficiency of HHO deposits development. Since 2019, TATNEFT has been implementing the SVN-3200 project, which has been expanded this year by commissioning infill drilling wells and 2 additional (Soldiersky and Olympiadovsky) SVN deposits.
Today, effective technologies have been developed that make it possible to accelerate the development time of wells reaching the design flow rate from 11 to 3 months, and measures are being taken to reduce operating costs, which have made it possible to reduce the production cost by almost 2 times since 2016.
The company continues to develop innovative technologies that increase the efficiency of field development, expands the geography of the SVN project. In 2020, 240 have been drilled and it is planned to drill 146 more appraisal wells. Based on the results, it is planned to drill more than 50 production wells annually. Annual production of SVN is expected to be 3.3 million tons.
