KazMunaiGas to enhance oil recovery at old oilfields

The Annual Caspian Technical Conference and Exhibition of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) took place on November 12 to 14 in Astana. The conference and exhibition were organized by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy, KazEnergy Association of Legal Entities in Oil, Gas and Energy Sectors and Shell company.

Representatives of engineering companies involved in production, exploration and development of hydrocarbon deposits discussed problems in oil and gas industry of Kazakhstan and the Caspian Sea region in particular. The event became a platform for the exchange of experience, knowledge and information concerning the most recent developments in the industry.

KazMunaiGas, the national oil company of Kazakhstan, presented one of the most interesting projects of the year at the conference: the oil company is opening the Science and Research Institute of Production and Drilling Technologies. The expertise center will be operating from the KazMunaiGas headquarter in Astana. The center comprised of more than 50 experts in oil and gas industry will be monitoring the most complex fields through video cameras installed at the sites. This will make it possible to inspect drilling operating in real time right from Astana. Geology, development and production will be in the competence of the center.

KazMunaiGas holds shares, according to the Head Geologist of the company Kurmangazy Iskaziev, in 86 oilfields including the largest oilfields of Kazakhstan Tengiz, Karachaganak and Kashagan. However, some of the large fields, including Uzen field developed by KazMunaiGas Exploration Production and key fields of Embamunaigas and Mangystaumunaygas companies, have already gone past their peak production. That is why the main goal now is to balance Kazakhtan's oil production levels and prevent them declining rapidly in the coming years. Iskaziev added that the new institute would use advanced technologies and methods such as polymer flooding, water-alternated-gas injection, to enhance oil recovery at the old fields.

The Science and Research Institute of Production and Drilling Technologies has prepared geological and hydrodynamic models for Uzen, Zhetybay, Kalamkas fields and the main fields of Emba region. These models will be used to determine the methods of further operations.

Writing by Gyuzel Kamalova, editing by Tatyana Kuzmina