KEYS TO HIDDEN TREASURES OF WESTERN SIBERIA: ASP
The modern world needs more and more energy every day. At the same time production of oil, the main source of energy, becomes more and more hard-to-get; the explored reserves of this valuable natural resource are declining all over the world. This is where new technologies come to help the humankind: they make it possible to produce hydrocarbon reserves which otherwise would remain inaccessible for conventional oil recovery techniques. One of such innovations is a chemical enhanced oil recovery (EOR) method called Alkaline-Surfactant-Polymer flooding.
Conventional hydrocarbon production methods only deliver 30-35% of oil to the surface. The rest of the oil stays in the formation. The three component (alkali, surfactant, and polymer — ASP) chemical flooding technology makes it possible to additionally recover up to 30% of oil. Therefore the development efficiency for hundreds of oil fields could be doubled. ASP components are dissolved in water and injected into the oil producing formation. The surfactant reduces the surface tension between oil and water. Alkali protects the surfactant from adsorption. Polymer is used to increase the viscosity of the mixture. The effect of integrated usage of these components is similar to what happens when a detergent washes grease off a frying pan.
The ASP technology unveils an opportunity for an even more efficient and environmentally friendly development of natural resources vs. conventional production methods. Application of this technical solution is related to the usage of the existing oilfield infrastructure. Moreover, ASP helps recover oil within three years, while it would take decades in case of waterflood. This is to substantially reduce overall environmental footprint. All the components in the ASP mixture are similar to household substances used by people in every day life. Therefore they are safe for humans as well as environment. ASP technology is already performing well in projects in the USA, Canada, Oman, and China. Salym Petroleum, a joint venture of Shell and Gazprom Neft, is executing a pilot project for implementation of this innovation in Russia. The company has been developing the Salym group of fields in Western Siberia since 2003. The company has effectively adopted new technologies in well construction, oil production, safety and environmental protection. Salym Petroleum has been the first company in Russia to have its complete stock of wells equipped with the Smart Fields technology to remotely monitor and manage the wells. Meanwhile, usage of modern Russian drilling rigs and advanced managerial solutions made it possible for the company to substantially reduce well drilling and completion time.
Salym Petroleum has been studying the ASP technology since 2008. It has completed series of laboratory and field tests with impressive results. The use of the technology in a single well tracer test demonstrated the displacement of 90 percent of oil left in the formation after waterflood. Salym Petroleum is currently executing ASP pilot project. In 2014, the company drilled seven ASP wells, and is planning to start experimental production in early 2015. Salym Petroleum is prepared to proceed to industrial application of the technology starting in 2018. The similarity of characteristics between the fields in the region makes it possible to use this oil recovery method on other oilfields in Western Siberia.
As calculated by experts, application of the ASP technology in the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug — Yugra will make it possible to produce additional 2.4 bln tons of oil in the next 15 years.
Application of the ASP technology is more costly than conventional oil production methods. With the existing Russian tax system commercial-size ASP project becomes unprofitable for companies. Hence governmental support is required. With tax incentives in place, fullscale ASP application will become an economically attractive EOR method. The operating lifecycle will increase for hundreds of fields, which will make it possible for companies to substantially increase the oil production. The state budget will receive additional tax payments, new jobs will be created, and local business will gain development momentum. This will undoubtedly lead to the advantage of the entire region and the country as a whole.
The ASP technology is one of many innovations Salym Petroleum is actively implementing. Applying it as well as other advanced technologies, the company discovers new horizons for efficient natural resource development and substantially contributes to ensuring global energy security.
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