Scientific and Technical Potential

“Zarubezhneft” has a considerable scientific and technological potential that enables it to provide sophisticated full-cycle operations – from designing advanced computer-based models of oil and gas fields and reserves estimation to oilfield development projects and investment programs preparation and their further field implementation on a ready-to-operate basis.

The company pays much attention to such an important direction for innovative development of oil industry as working out and implementation of the modern oil recovery enhancement methods. “Zarubezhneft” possesses a wide range of patented achievements for production enhancement and advanced technologies of oilfields development.

“Zarubezhneft” capacities in this area significantly increased, when by the Decree of the President of Russian Federation #137 of February 3, 2004, “Zarubezhneft” incorporated JSC “RMNTK “Nefteotdacha” and two institutes – “Giprovostokneft” and VNIIneft. Because of this “Zarubezhneft” acquired its own engineering base and innovative assets.

In accordance with the same Decree elaboration of the modern enhanced oil recovery methods has become one of priority directions of the company activities.

In addition to the traditional methods of production enhancement, the new ones can be offered:

• new integrated methods of production enhancement that suppose a combination of horizontal and vertical oil displacement based on the geological and filtration characteristics of productive reservoirs;
• energy-efficient thermal methods of production enhancement based on steam injection in combination with water flooding and air injection;
• thermal-and-gas method of production enhancement based on oxygen-containing mixtures (in particular, water-air mixture) injection into light crude oil fields with high reservoir temperature that ensures intrastratal transformation of injected agent into a high efficiency miscible displacement agent.

Currently, “Zarubezhneft” is engaged in negotiations on execution of the following contracts regarding application of EOR methods:

Republic of Cuba:

Pools in E1 and M formations, Boca de Jaruco field.

Russia:

Permian-Carboniferous pool at Usinskoye field (JSC “LUKOIL”)

Russkoye field (THK-BP)

Erginskoye field (open acreage in Hanty-Mansyisk Autonomous Region).

Two new labs for investigation of thermal-chemical EOR methods were established in JSC “VNIIneft” under Academician A.P.Krilov.

In JSC “RMNTK “Nefteotdacha” production capacities are being restored for practical implementation of the EOR methods at JSC “Zarubezhneft” objects in Russia and abroad and, also, at the objects of other oil companies.