Cost effectiveness of R&D not related to field engineering is expected to amount in 2002 to some RUR 2.4 bn with stimulation methods-based additional oil production accounting for RUR 2.2 bn.

The R&D Institute “SurgutNIPIneft” has been performing researches in 57 lines. The cost of the R&D works performed by SurgutNIPIneft has totaled RUR 225 mn. Third-party R&D institutes has been performing researches in 69 lines with the total cost of works of RUR 75 mn.

OJSC “Surgutneftegas” as a customer was provided with 18 process flowsheets, 3 development programs, 9 geological models for project documentation execution, as well as calculations of technical and economic indices for 25 newly developed fields for the period till 2010.

In February 2002 OJSC “Surgutneftegas” commissioned a group of laboratories for modeling of new EOR methods, including thermal ones. During the current year the group of laboratories witnessed two wet burning modeling experiments on Bazhenov suite models. The yielded results are encouraging for the method’s further use. At present the Company is investigating burning variables and combustion products. It was for the first time that the experiment on researching of 3-phase co-flowing under bed modeling conditions was performed. These data are important for performing technological calculations of gas-capped deposits development parameters.

This line of inquiry is of paramount importance because the Bazhenov suite oil remains inaccessible for field developers due to lower permeability of strata and extremely high density of sediments called pyroschists. SurgutNIPIneft’s experts have demonstrated that Bazhenov deposit development is a reserve for Surgutneftegas’s constant production growth over the next several decades. The Institute’s specialists have also proved that wet in-situ combustion holds much promise for the fields of later development stage as it exceeds in efficiency other EOR methods.

Press Service of OJSC “Surgutneftegas”