«In 2011, in the direction of enhanced oil recovery, pilot works were carried out using six technologies; in total, 57 well operations were performed. According to the results of the work done, the technology of plasma-pulse treatment is planned for industrial implementation»
Deputy Field Director for Development of LUKOIL-Western Siberia LLC - Chief Geologist
One of the strategic objectives of each oil and gas producing enterprise is the replenishment of the mineral resource base. Every year, as a result of a large-scale geological exploration program, a significant increase in oil and gas reserves is carried out in the territory of the LUKOIL-Western Siberia society, new fields are discovered and new pools at the developed fields. Accordingly, the production of hydrocarbons is increasing. Andrei Potryasov, Deputy General Director of LUKOIL-Western Siberia on geology and development, tells about the results of this work in 2011 and the immediate plans.
— Andrei Alexandrovich, in 2011 the geological department of the LUKOIL-Western Siberia was divided into two sectors: the first is geological exploration, the second is geology and development. Why did such a need arise, and will the functions of the specialists of these two services be duplicated?
— As a company “LUKOIL-Western Siberia” is a whole, so its geological service represented and constitute a single, integral organism. The detachment of a geological exploration unit is aimed, first of all, at raising the quality and results of geological exploration to a new level. The urgency of this is overdue: today it is just necessary to immerse deeply in geological exploration in detail. At the same time, it allows you to focus on a different direction - management of field development. Competent and effective management of the development of fields, mostly mature, becomes a most responsible and significant task. Therefore, to talk about the division of service in the above areas would be incorrect. A better and more efficient solution of issues in the exploration and development of fields will further strengthen the geological service as a whole.
— Which of the large-scale projects implemented by LUKOIL-Western Siberia in recent years were supervised by the service of geology and development, and what are the plans?
— In the period of 2009-2011. a joint project was implemented with the Schlumberger company to conduct a comprehensive study of the eastern part of the Krasnoleninsky field in the Kamenny license area of TPP Urayneftegaz. A lot of work was done to refine the geological model; seismofacial, geomechanical and hydrodynamic models were built. The ultimate goal of the project is to search for an effective technology for penetration, intensification and subsequent development of complex Vikulovsky productive sediments.
The results have not confirmed by 100% predictive calculations, but they gave a powerful impetus for the successful implementation of multi-zone hydraulic fracturing in horizontal wells at other sites of the Company. Experimental industrial works on a wide range of new methods and technologies are continuing, and not without success. We have started the experimental field works on two comprehensive development optimization projects at the Pokamasovsky and Severo-Pokachevsky fields. Due to new compositions and technologies, at the Pokamasovskoye field alone we expect to increase oil production in the next three years to 15% annually.
In the work is the largest project for the study and development of oil and gas fields of the Bolshekhetskaya Depression in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District. The implementation of this project in the future at its peak may add up to 28.1 million tons of nominal fuel.
In addition, LUKOIL-Western Siberia actively participates in auctions for the acquisition of license areas. So, in 2011, five new areas appeared in our assets; in 2012, we plan to acquire the additional six areas.
— In 2011, the West Siberian holding managed to improve the planned figures by 200 thousand tons of oil. And in many respects it became possible due to production drilling. Could you indicate the results of 2011 in this direction and plans for 2012?
— Indeed, the third part of the additional production (more than 70 thousand tons over the plan) was obtained by increasing the efficiency of new wells. In 2011, the share of horizontal wells increased by 32% (153 out of 466 wells commissioned), in 2010 their share was 11% (59 out of 523). In 2012, it is planned to increase the share of horizontal wells to 40% (233 out of 582). The highly skilled coordinated work of specialists of the geological service of the LUKOIL-Western Siberia, territorial production enterprises and KogalymNIPIneft, allowed, while increasing the share of complex wells, to maintain the efficiency of the HS at a high level - about 50 tons/day.
— In each area of the Company's activities (drilling, production, etc.) pilot works are carried out. What was done in 2011 within the framework of the pilot works in terms of geological activity, and what is planned for this year?
— Due to the constantly deteriorating structure of the reservoirs, it is necessary to constantly engage in pilot projects and introduce new technologies. Pilot industrial works are actively developing in the following areas: construction of new wells, hydraulic fracturing, physical and chemical methods of enhanced oil recovery, intensification of oil production, water diversion works, etc.
In the area of improving the development and involvement of inactive reserves in 2011, work was carried out on 10 topics, 229 borehole operations were completed (with a plan of 221). The main ones include: carrying out multi-zone hydraulic fracturing in horizontal wells, introducing an extended LWD complex during horizontal drilling, building multilateral wells, drilling the targets with a complex structure of reserves, introducing the technology of simultaneous separate reservoir development and simultaneous separate injection when drilling multi-layer deposits. In six topics the work was completed, on four works are underway, four technologies were transferred to the industrial category according to the results and due to demonstrated efficiency.
Since 2011, drilling has been supervised by regional scientific institutes with updated sectoral geological and hydrodynamic models. In 2012, work is planned to improve the systems of completion of horizontal wells (branched and multilateral, extending the wellbores with an increase in fracture zones). As I have already noted, we associate an increase in the efficiency of oil reservoir development with horizontal wells.
To understand the geological and technological features of the work and to be able to increase their potential, a complex of geophysical studies and works in wells is planned — microseismic monitoring of multi-zone hydraulic fracturing, research logging in a horizontal section of the wellbore equipped with a bypass system using a coiled tubing unit.
In 2011, in the direction of enhanced oil recovery, pilot works were carried out using six technologies; in total, 57 well operations were performed. According to the results of the work done, the technology of plasma-pulse treatment is planned for industrial implementation.
In the direction of hydraulic fracturing, we performed 21 well operations. Technologies such as selective hydraulic fracturing on horizontal wells and ZetaGel have proven to be the most effective. According to the results of pilot works, these technologies will be applied on industrial scope in 2012.
Even more ambitious plans for pilot projects have been drawn for 2012. In the direction of enhanced oil recovery, 10 topics (174 well operations) are planned, in the direction of hydraulic fracturing - five topics (32 well operations). Among the most complex and high-tech works, it is necessary to note the selective hydraulic fracturing by the “Isojet” technology of Trican Well Service LLC.
— Secondary and tertiary methods of the formation treatment are of great importance for increasing oil production. How widely are they used in the West Siberian holding, and which of the methods are the most effective?
— In 2011, over 3,000 well operations in the direction of enhanced oil recovery were performed at the Company's fields.
Additional oil production from these activities amounted to about 3 million tons, which is about 7% of the total production in the West Siberian holding.
555 hydraulic fracturing operations were performed in the operating well stock. Additional production amounted to more than 760 thousand tons of oil, and the average increase in oil production rate was 9.5 tons/day per 1 well operation.
178 sidetracks were drilled with additional production of about 600 thousand tons. The average flow rate per well was more than 20 tons/day.
Physicochemical methods were applied in 1265 well operations. Additional production amounted to more than 1 million tons of oil, specific efficiency - 780 tons per 1 well operation.
785 operations were performed to intensify oil production. Additional oil production amounted to more than 400 thousand tons, the specific efficiency per well — more than 3 tons/day.
Traditionally, the most effective method is hydraulic fracturing. I would like to note that hydraulic fracturing technology does not stand still. Today, more than 20 different technologies are used at the Company's fields. In 2011, 15 specialists from the West Siberian holding were trained at the Tyumen Schlumberger Training Center; they now apply their knowledge in their daily work.
The company purchased and applied the latest equipment on the basis of LLC LUKOIL-Engineering and KogalymNIPIneft for conducting laboratory studies of proppants and hydraulic fracturing fluids.
For 2012, it is planned to increase the number of actions by more than 300 well operations (10%) for all methods of enhanced oil recovery, additional production - by more than 300 thousand tons (10%) compared to the 2011 plan.
— Andrei Alexandrovich, what can you say about innovations in the field of field development management?
— Today, the main innovative areas in the development of oil and gas fields are the introduction of energy-saving technologies, the use of commingling (simultaneous-separate reservoir operation), ORD (simultaneous-separate injection), nitrogen-foam and interval fracturing, micro-seismic monitoring of hydraulic fracturing, nanoelectric logging, neutron-neutron logging in a cased production string, using bypass systems for logging in existing horizontal wells without lifting of downhole pumping equipment.
— Which of the newly acquired license areas of LUKOIL-Western Siberia LLC were commissioned in 2011, and which are planned to be?
— Last year, the Svobodnoe Field of TPP “Kogalymneftegaz” was put into commercial operation. In 2012, according to the results of exploratory drilling, it is planned to commission three fields into trial operation (Andreevskoye, Sredne-Mulymyinskoe, Urayskoye fields of the TPP Urayneftegaz) and two fields - into commercial operation (Yarkoye field of the TPP Kogalymneftegaz and the Severo-Pokamasovskoye field of TPP "Langepasneftegaz").
— In 2011, the Roxar software complex was widely used in enterprises of the West Siberian holding. Why this particular product is chosen to build geological and hydrodynamic models, and can we say that it greatly simplifies the work of geologists?
— Roxar is one of the world leaders in the development of software for modeling and monitoring of oil and gas fields, which is used by almost all oil and gas companies. LUKOIL has considerable experience working with this company.
Our choice of Roxar software is due to such qualities as a wide range of software for modeling and monitoring, a high level of software and hardware development, and the offer of the latest domestic and foreign technologies. In addition, Roxar has experience in implementing the technologies in Western Siberia, as well as a team of professional managers, geologists, and developers. The Roxar software helps Western Siberian holding specialists and developers to determine the optimal field development strategy, assess the risks of technological decision-making, select the most effective geological and technical actions and save money by eliminating risky activities.
Computer geological and hydrodynamic models can provide a reliable forecast of field development indicators, while Roxar permanent monitoring systems are designed to monitor the operation of each well. The combination of these technologies will allow achieving maximum efficiency of hydrocarbon deposits.