* Most oil — in Russia and worldwide — is produced from terrigenous deposits (i.e., deposits derived from land as opposed to marine environments). These kinds of reservoirs are made up of decomposed geological material, are well understood, and typically have a high degree of predictability in terms of their development. Carbonate reservoirs, in contrast, are typically formed in situ from the growth of marine organisms, or are the result of sediments deposited by water. Oil deposits in carbonate reservoirs are often former coral reefs. Carbonate reserves are formed as a result of a reaction of the minerals present in water, causing a significant change to the underlying geology, and resulting in highly erratic reservoir properties. A reservoir may be highly porous, but pores may not necessarily be connected to each other, so that the strata are practically impenetrable in allowing hydrocarbons to flow into a well. These reservoirs also have a further feature — a large number of fissures, demanding a particular approach in their development. For example, gas or water can get into oil-bearing strata through these fissures, with an adverse effect on the oil production process.

The effective development of such fields demands the use of innovative approaches covering many areas, including petrophysical modelling and core analysis, extensive specialist geological investigations, innovative approaches to hydrodynamic (flow) stimulation, and more. As part of its Technology Strategy Gazprom Neft is studying the scientific and engineering experience it has accumulated in various areas — including geophysical investigations and data integration, geo-mechanics, modelling, hydrodynamic investigations, well operation regimes and EOR techniques — and adapting these to its own projects.

** Hydraulic fracking is a means of increasing oil production. It involves the high-pressure injection of a mixture of fluids and a special proppant agent (proppant) into strata. The process of injecting the mixture creates highly conductive channels (“hydraulic fractures”) connecting the bore hole and the strata which are subsequently strengthened with a proppant. These fractures allow oil to flow that would not, under other circumstances, reach the well. Under multi-stage fracking, multiple fracking operations can be undertaken from a single horizontal well, allowing a manifold increase in the catchment area covered from that well.

At the end of 2014 various Gazprom Neft projects, directed at improving efficiency in oil and gas production, the development of new reserves, and the implementation of the company’s strategic objectives, were brought together in a single concept document, named as the company’s “Technology Strategy”. All technological challenges facing Gazprom Neft were allocated into nine priority areas, including specific projects with clear lead times and anticipated outcomes.