Petroleum scientists receive Tatarstan State Award in Science and Technology
The team comprises employees of Kazan Federal University, the Institute of Earth Physics (Russian Academy of Sciences), and Tatneft, one of Russia’s biggest oil companies.
The ceremony was held on 2 February in Kazan Kremlin and featured Rais (Governor) of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov.
Two awardees represent the Institute of Geology and Petroleum Technologies – Senior Research Associate Eduard Ziganshin (Laboratory of In-Situ Combustion) and Junior Research Associate Airat Yarullin (Laboratory of Utilization of Carbon Dioxide in Natural Underground Reservoirs).
Vice-Rector for Earth Sciences Danis Nurgaliev explains that the work is devoted to geodynamics monitoring in the territory of southeastern Tatarstan in order to ensure industrial safety within the boundaries of oil-producing areas of the Republic. In recent years, with the participation of KFU employees, unique results have been obtained on the geodynamics situation and seismicity of the territory where intensive development of oil and gas fields is carried out. Today this system is the most advanced not only in Russia, but also in the world. Another feature of the work is that the results of the system are used not only to assess the geodynamics situation in the region, but also to improve the efficiency of the development of Romashkino field. Thus, geological and geophysical substantiation and a software product were made using machine learning, which makes it possible to identify the weakest local earthquakes at the noise level. Today the system is successfully used by Tatneft specialists.
“The research was undertaken at the Center for Liquid Hydrocarbons,” continues Dr Nurgaliev. “The research and development of our young talented scientists Eduard Ziganshin and Airat Yarullin have given this monitoring system a new life through the application of modern geophysical and end-to-end technologies, including artificial intelligence systems for processing local earthquake data streams. In reality, this is only the beginning of very interesting and important studies.”
Dr Ziganshin says that the system was created 20 years ago, “We at KFU have gathered the information amassed through the years of observation and interpreted it while taking account of geological history and the history of oilfield development, and we obtained unique results in regard to the geodynamics and seismicity of the area.”
The State Award is the first high honor for the young scientist, and he says it’s a great stimulus to advance towards new results.
Dr Yarullin shares, “Today was an important moment in my research career. Receiving the award from the Rais of Tatarstan, I felt huge responsibility – but also joy. The award speaks to the pertinence of our work, and it inspires to continue moving forward with the projects.”