Kazan Federal University

Lukoil in process of introducing KFU-made catalysts

Aquathermolysis catalysts researched at the In-Situ Combustion Lab are successfully tested in oil production in Samara Oblast.

According to Olga Slavkina, Head of the Section of Innovative Technology and Strategic Projects of Lukoil Engineering LLC, the catalysts were able to reduce oil viscosity at Strelovo deposit fourfold, and oil production from a well increased sevenfold. Starting in October, the catalysts are going to be tested at other deposits.

“A new batch of the catalysts measuring 4.5 tons ha been produced. The composition is always tailored to the specifics of a chosen deposit,” comments Senior Research Associate Irek Mukhamatdinov.

Head of the In-Situ Combustion Lab Aleksey Vakhin describes the technological process, “First, a solvent-soluble catalyst precursor is pumped in, and then, after a few days, superheated steam is also pumped in. Under the action of heat, the precursor is destroyed with the formation of catalyst nanoparticles, which are retained on the rock and intensify the process of destructive hydrogenation of oil asphaltenes. Therefore, viscosity decreases and oil recovery increases.”

Previously, the catalysts have been used at Boca de Jaruco (Cuba) and Ashalcha (Russia) oilfields with excellent results.

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