Gazprom Neft and the Republic of Tatarstan have signed an agreement on developing oil and gas projects, and on cooperating in developing enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technologies, under a document signed by Alexander Dyukov, Chairman of the Management Board, Gazprom Neft, and Rustam Minnikhanov, President of the Republic of Tatarstan.
The parties have agreed to cooperate in developing high-tech oil equipment much in demand by the industry, as well as establishing technological test sites in the Volga Federal District and Western Siberia for joint R&D activities. The document also envisages increasing cooperation in geological subsoil investigations, hydrocarbon production and refining, developing the petroleum-products supply system, and a number of other areas.
Modern EOR techniques are a key tool in developing mature fields, and in developing hard-to-recover reserves. These technologies will facilitate the production of significant volumes of hydrocarbon reserves, viable production of which is not possible using existing solutions. The full-scale deployment of innovative EOR methodologies is hindered by their high cost and the need to develop Russian production of the necessary equipment and reagents.
Pilot projects implemented at Gazprom Neft have already confirmed the potential for a 20% increase in oil recovery using surfactant-polymer flooding technologies. Tatneft will be one of Gazprom Neft’s strategic partners in developing this area.
“Gazprom Neft works in close cooperation with enterprises in Tatarstan — including Tatneft and KAMAZ — in many areas. This new agreement confirms our commitment to strengthening our partnership with the republic. We will work together on one of the most important tasks facing the industry — developing enhanced oil recovery techniques. Gazprom Neft and Tatarstan have experience in this area. In joining forces, we will be able to speed-up the process of moving from testing to the widespread deployment of a Russian package of solutions, which will increase efficiency in developing mature oil fields.”
Alexander Dyukov CEO and Chairman of the Management Board, Gazprom Neft
“The Republic of Tatarstan has its own know-how and experience in oil production, as does Gazprom Neft. Joint research will make it possible for us to increase oil recovery. By no means less important today is joining forces in implementing environmental safety programmes.”
Rustam Minnikhanov President of the Republic of Tatarstan