Oil recovery efficiently to spike 12% in Kazakhstan's west

Photo courtesy of newskaz.ruOil recovery efficiency will be increased from the current 31% to 43% at oilfields in Mangistau Oblast through use of new technologies, tengrinews reports citing Novosti-Kazakhstan.

During the Congress of the National Cluster of Oil and Gas Industry in Aktau city in western Kazakhstan, Akim (Governor) of Mangistau Oblast Alik Aidarbayev stressed the importance of using new effective technologies in oil production to ramp up the production at the existing oilfields. The Akim reminded that increasing recovery efficiency could be an effective way to revive old oil fields and increase their recoverable reserves. According to Aidarbayev, the average oil recovery factor in Kazakhstan amounts to 30% whereas in other countries it nears 50%.

To maintain reservoir pressure many countries not only re-inject water, but also add polymeric substances, he said, adding that a number of oil fields in Kazakhstan had started availing on this method.

“Geological and hydro dynamic stimulation experiments have shown that the use of these polymeric substances increases oil recovery factor by 12%. This means that with the present oil recovery at 31% the increased recovery will make 43%. I am confident that this increase is achievable,” the Akim said.

The new technology will be tested at Kalamkas oil field this year.

The remaining recoverable reserves of oil in Mangistau Oblast currently amount to 662 million tons. But with the 12% increase in recovery efficiency, old oil fields will add up 79 million tons to their recoverable reserves. This is similar to discovering a new oil field as large as Kumkol, the Akim said.

“The increase of oil recovery would pay off all the expenses connected with production of the polymeric substances and other chemicals,” Aidarbayev said.