Technologies and Innovations
The determining factor of innovational development of any enterprise is the ability to create and use new technologies effectively. The main focus of Gazprom Neft in innovational development includes:
- Increasing the efficiency of oil extraction on the exhausted resource base of traditional deposits;
- Exploration of new regions with difficult climatic conditions: Yamal, Eastern Siberia;
- Use of shelves, especially those of the Arctic seas: the Pechora Sea, the Kara Sea and the Barents Sea;
- Development of non-traditional sources of hydrocarbons: bitumen, bituminous sands, bituminous shales, high-viscosity oil;
- Improvement of ecological and consumer qualities of manufactured oil products.
Technologies in geological survey and extraction
The main role of innovations in geological survey is to improve its efficiency through the development of rational complexes of geological and geophysical studies, improvement of stock evaluation methods, diminishing of geological risks and improving the accuracy of specifying promising objects.
In 2010, Gazprom Neft conducted geological and engineering operations (GEO) on 1,236 wells, resulting in an additional extraction amounting to 4,789,500 tons of oil. One of the main results of the Company’s activity in technology development is the active application of oil extraction intensification methods and improvement of reservoir recovery (IRR). For 2010, the total extraction in relation to IRR events reached 1.3 mln. tons or 4.5 percent of the Company’s total production. These methods facilitate a considerable increase in the extracted stock and involve low-standard reserves in the process.
The Company applies physical, chemical, hydrodynamic and thermal methods for productive strata treatment. The main volume of additional production in 2010 was obtained using physical methods, primarily through hydraulic fracturing of formation (HFF) — 476,000 tons. On account of the application of hydrodynamic and chemical methods of deposit development in hard geological conditions, an additional 483,000 tons of oil were produced. In 2010, 715 new wells were commissioned, 232 cases of HFF were performed, and the kickoff of 31 sidetracks and 49 deepenings to the lower formation were performed. For boring and casing pipes the latest technology is being actively used.
In 2007 Gazprom Neft’s Scientific and Analytical Department was transformed into an independent scientific and production centre – Gazpromoil SPC in order to provide scientific and technical support to geological survey, design and monitoring and extraction of oil and gas. In 2009, a new subdivision – space visualisation center – was opened on the back of SPC. The new subdivision was established to provide the following services - the design of the paths of new wells, 3D seismo-geological modeling and optimisation of deposit development.
In Gazpromneft-Khantos 
, “combined dual pumping operation” (DPO) technology was
implemented, allowing several production tasks to be addressed simultaneously - improve control over deposit development
and ensure better depletion of oil resources and reduce well downtime. Now the specialists receive all data on the output
of each formation in online format.
At the Priobsky and a number of other deposits, so-called “smart wells” are being created using the technology of stationary remote depth measuring systems. Adjustment of the model to the results of well exploration helped to reverse the trend of falling production at the Priobsky deposit. The actual production growth of sector 8 at the Priobsky deposit reached about 24 percent; the calculated increase in final oil extraction is 4.7 percent.
At Gazpromneft-Noyabrskneftegaz’s Vyngapurovskoe deposit, a new device for heating the casing annulus has been put into mass operation. New heaters of the casing head valve prevent well failures related to valve freezing on the wellhead equipment, and reduce direct oil losses by 90 percent.
Technologies in oil refining
The strategic goals of Gazprom Neft in oil refining include transition to the manufacturing of products that comply with the requirements of 2009 Technical Regulations, increasing the depth of refining to 90-95 percent and increasing the output of light-oil products to 77 percent.
To achieve set goals, the Company is realising a large-scale programme of modernisation at its oil refineries in Russia and abroad, aimed at the improvement of environmental and consumer characteristics of fuels produced and increasing the output and range of products manufactured.
At Omsk Refinery, the Izomalk-2 complex of light naphtha isomerisation was commissioned in October 2010, and is currently the largest of its kind in Europe. The complex produces a high-octane component of commercial gasolines with zero content of sulphur, aromatic and unsaturated hydrocarbons. Through the implementation of Izomalk-2 into the process schedule at the Omsk Refinery, the Company will see a greater depth in oil refining and higher output of Class 4 and 5 high-octane motor gasolines.
At the Moscow Refinery, the construction of a light naphtha isomerisation installation began in July 2010. The Moscow Refinery modernisation programme envisages the reconstruction of existing and construction of new processing facilities, increasing the safety and environmental safety of technological processes. The light naphtha isomerisation installation will produce a motor gasoline component with an octane number up to 90.5. The installation output will amount to 650,000 tons a year. It is expected to be commissioned in 2012.
At the refinery in Panchevo (Serbia), the construction of a hydrocracking and hydrofining complex commenced as part of the modernisation process for processing facilities. The launch of the complex, planned for 2012, will allow an increase in the volume of processing to the maximum plant capacity.
