Gazprom Neft, Skoltech, Khanty-Mansi AO are developing technologies to produce hard-to-recover oil

St.Petersburg, December 9 - Netegaz.RU. Gazprom Neft, the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) and the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug - Yugra’s Shpilman R&D Centre for Rational Subsoil Usage have concluded an agreement on establishing an engineering centre to develop and commercialise exploration and production technologies for hard-to-recover reserves. Implementing this project will facilitate the development of Russia’s largest laboratory complex for studying hard-to-recover oil.

Alexey Vashkevich, Director for Technological Development, Gazprom Neft said:

• This project, on establishing an engineering centre for developing and monetising promising solutions for investigating and developing hard-to-recover reserves, is unprecedented in Russia
• Together with our partners we will be able to offer the market a wide range of investigations, the outcomes of which will be much sought after both in producing hard-to-recover oil, and in developing new materials, additive manufacturing technologies and approaches to CO2 utilisation and management

The partners are to establish a joint venture and full-cycle engineering centre through the Skoltech Oil and Gas Laboratory and the Core Research Centre in Khanty-Mansiysk.

Alexander Kuleshov, Rector of Skolkovo Institute of Science & Technology, said:

• We are longstanding partners of Gazprom Neft
• A unique laboratory has been established at Skoltech, the like of which does not exist in Russia
• Setting up this joint venture will allow us to go to market with exploration & production technologies developed by Skoltech and its partners

This entity will act as a platform for scientific and technological experiments, for developing hydrocarbon exploration and production technologies for hard-to-recover oil, and for cutting-edge enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methodologies.
The centre will also be involved in developing hydrogen production, transportation and storage solutions and in carbon capture and storage (CCS) solutions.

This facility will also act as a hub for unique equipment for analysing core samples from hard-to-recover and non-traditional oil deposits.
Specialists at the engineering centre will run projects involving integrated support for petrophysical, geophysical and geological simulations, drilling optimisation, well finishing and fracking.

Petr Stulov, Head of the Shpilman R&D Centre for Rational Subsoil Usage, noted:

• Launching this high-tech project with our partners is giving us a tool for overcoming the industry challenges associated with producing hard-to-recover oil
• Concurrently with this we are also addressing the important task of attracting and retaining highly qualified specialists in Yugra

The Core Research Centre was established in Khanty-Mansiysk due to the high concentration of unconventional hydrocarbon reserves in this region: on which basis, it provides opportunities for research and analysis in close proximity to fields.

Gazprom Neft and Skoltech have been working together for more than 5 years.