SOVIETS MOVING TO IMPORT MORE ASSISTANCE

European companies have signed protocols to discuss exploration and development projects in the Soviet Union. BP Exploration and BP Chemicals of the U.K. are investigating an enhanced oil recovery project in western Siberia or Kazakhstan. And Petrofina SA of Belgium has signed two protocols covering exploration, development, and production projects in eastern Siberia. The two BP units signed an agreement with Soyuznefteotdacha, the research institute responsible for EOR, that could lead to

April 29, 1991

3 min read

European companies have signed protocols to discuss exploration and development projects in the Soviet Union.

BP Exploration and BP Chemicals of the U.K. are investigating an enhanced oil recovery project in western Siberia or Kazakhstan.

And Petrofina SA of Belgium has signed two protocols covering exploration, development, and production projects in eastern Siberia.

BP AGREEMENTS

The two BP units signed an agreement with Soyuznefteotdacha, the research institute responsible for EOR, that could lead to tests of the use of a polymer gels and low tension polymer flood (LTPF) starting in 1994.

Following the protocol, BP will begin detailed talks on terms for the proposed project and the reservoirs it may cover. The BP protocols were signed after an 8 day visit by four Soyuznefteotdacha staff members to BP in the U.K.

Peter Briggs, a BP consultant on reservoir technology, said the company's research unit has taken polymer gels and LTPF through advanced laboratory work to outside testing. The technology now needs to be tested in real reservoirs for the first time.

Briggs said choosing the wells most suited to these methods of EOR and continuing work on Soviet crude and cores will take place throughout next year. If the work goes according to plan, field trials could begin in mid-1994.

Briggs also said Norway's Den norske stats oljeselskap AS is considering use of an LTPF in its Statfjord field in the North Sea and is interested in participating in the Soviet trails.

The technology might also be used in other North Sea fields, such as Brent, where early water production is a problem. It could also be applied to Kuparuk field in Alaska, Briggs said.

Soyuznefteotdacha is interested in EOR laboratory techniques and BP Exploration's reservoir simulation capability. Soviet personnel may participate in the work in London that will precede the 1994 tests.

In addition to BP Exploration test proposals, BP Chemicals hopes to license production of EOR surfactants to the Soviets. The chemical company also will assess Soviet technology on vanadyl prohyrin removal to reduce the vanadium content of particular grades of crude oil.

PETROFINA PROJECTS

Petrofina's protocols, covering potential projects in eastern Siberia, are the Belgian company's third venture in the Soviet Union.

In partnership with Total Cie. Francaise des Petroles of France and Repsol SA of Spain it is involved in projects in the Timan Pechora basin, the Republic of Komis, and parts of the Turkmenistan Republic.

The latest protocols were signed with Eniseyneftegasgeologiya and Eniseygeofisika Associations and with the Russian Federation state committee for geology and use of energy and mineral resources.

The two agreements covers 20,000 sq km in the northern part of the Krasnoyarsk region in the Russian Republic. They could lead to Petrofina's first operating role in the U.S.S.R.

The company said it will begin immediate detailed engineering and economic studies in cooperation with the associations for development of reservoirs and future exploration.