Gazprom Neft’s Science and Technology Center and the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology have agreed to jointly establish a digital lab to conduct research in the field of modeling of multiphase systems in the oil and gas industry.
Image: Officials from Gazprom Neft and Skoltech. Photo: courtesy of Gazprom Neft PJSC.
The new digital lab’s key area of research will be the modeling of complex flows of multiphase media (oil, gas, water, solid particles).
Gazprom Neft said that the research aims to develop the effective technologies for field development at each stage, from conceptual planning to brownfield.
Planned to be established as part of Skoltech’s Center for Hydrocarbon Recovery, the lab allows research to be conducted with focus on the development of complex integrated models for fluid mechanics processes at each stage of field development, as well as for unconventional and hard-to-recover reserves.
The research will cover full portfolio of upstream technologies, from drilling, cementing and cleanup to multistage fracturing in near-horizontal wells, flowback, and transient production regimes
Gazprom Neft noted that the new lab will work on new integrated Russian products for the modeling of the full cycle of technological applications.
Skoltech’s Andrei Osiptsov, head of the new lab, said: “The modeling of multiphase systems requires a combination of fundamental models, high-performance computing and validation on real lab and field data.
“The foundation of the joint lab on the modeling of multiphase systems with Gazpromneft STC presents a unique opportunity for the development of prototypes of integrated software packages for the design of oil production technology for the success of national industry.”
The collaboration also involves joint participation of the two firms in contests, grant calls, and tenders in the field of science-rich technologies.
Gazprom Neft technology director Mars Khasanov said: “To achieve a technological breakthrough, the company benefits from tight links between academic science and business challenges and also from the partners of the innovative environment-leading Russian and international research centers.
“Gazprom Neft has been successfully implementing joint projects with Skoltech for a number of years now. The expansion of this collaboration opens new avenues for the entire national oil and gas industry.”