ASP Technology Enhances Oilfield Development Efficiency By 20%

The use of ASP technology-based chemical flooding will make it possible for oil producers operating in the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug – Ugra (KHMAO) to produce 2.4 billion tons of incremental oil by 2030. This evaluation of applying the new oil production method that makes it possible to enhance the Oil Recovery Factor (ORF) has been given in the report by the V.I.Shpilman Research and Analytical Centre for the Rational Use of the Subsoil commissioned by Salym Petroleum Development (SPD). SPD is implementing a pilot ASP technology-based chemical flooding project on the Salym group of fields in Western Siberia.

As it has been mentioned in the report, ‘ASP technology has been applied on oil fields in various countries of the world including China, India, Canada and USA. In accordance with the results of the application, ORF gain is estimated to be 10-20% (from original oil-in-place) vs. conventional waterflood. The KHMAO fields, including the biggest development assets such as Samotlor, Fyodorovskoye, and Priobskoye, possess properties similar to oil reservoirs where a positive ASP technology application experience has been obtained.'

‘The ASP technology combines the advantages of using surfactants, alkaline, and polymer, and makes it possible to achieve a radically new level of oil field development efficiency. In case of certain tax incentives being established, applying this technology will not only make it possible to prevent production decline in Russia's key oil producing region but also grow the volumes of the Ugra oil and raise investment for a rapid development of the region’s related industries such as petrochemistry and high-technology oilfield services,’ Yakov Volokitin, SPD New Technologies Manager, noted.

SPD has been studying the ASP technology since 2008. The company has conducted a number of laboratory and field tests in collaboration with its shareholders – Shell and Gazprom Neft. In 2009, single well test was conducted on the West Salym field. The results of the field trial have demonstrated the mobility of 90% of residual post-waterflood oil. In November 2012 SPD shareholders approved the implementation of the pilot ASP project on the Salym group of oil fields in 2013-2015.

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