Courtesy of salympetroleum.com

Within the scope of the pilot enhanced oil recovery project, Salym Petroleum Development (SPD) has delivered to the Salym group of fields the equipment for construction of a unit for preparation of a special mixture to be used for substantial oil recovery factor increase. The facility is scheduled to be brought online in mid-2015.

The project for pilot application of the new technology involving use of chemicals has been executed at the Salym group of fields for several years. The innovation is essentially about injecting into oil reservoir a special composition comprising alkali, surfactant, and polymer (ASP). The studies carried out have proven that, through application of ASP method, oil recovery factor may grow by as much as 20%, since the technology makes it possible to produce the crude remaining in the subsoil after the use of conventional field development methods.

The ASP mixing unit is the key facility of the oilfield infrastructure required for successful execution of the project. The equipment has been custom-manufactured to SPD's order. The company’s specialists have travelled twice in 2014 for inspections and adjustment of engineering solutions to the project’s specific features. For implementation of the new method, 7 wells were drilled, and construction of infrastructure facilities commenced: pipeline, ASP mixing unit, and emulsion breaking module where water with ASP components will be separated from oil. The specific feature of the method is the possibility of using it on the existing infrastructure and replicating it at other fields in the region.

It took 15 road trains to deliver the complete equipment set. The convoy comprised 7 megatrailers and a refrigerated road train to ensure maintenance of temperature mode for low temperature-sensitive pieces of freight. The equipment was delivered without damage and within the specified timeframe.

Source: salympetroleum.com