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ONGC Videsh’s success at Imperial Energy, Russia

July 22nd, 2015 - A far-flung location. Punishing weather conditions. Thick snow covers the expansive landscape. Sub-zero temperatures compounded by bitter winds. In this backdrop of harsh environs, a critical campaign took off, a first of its kind in Western Siberia.

The hard-to-recover reserves from tight reservoirs of Snezhnoye field in the Tomsk region of Siberia presented many challenges. Non-availability of experienced contractors did not deter the dedicated team of Imperial Energy. New Technology Induction brought exciting results and two horizontal wells of 1500m horizontal length each drilled in Naunak Formation of Snezhnoye field produced 58,000 m3/d of gas, 2313 bbl/d of liquid and 1037 bopd. The oil production is expected to reach 1200 barrels per day. Well is currently under stabilization. Earlier, single stage fracturing in horizontal wells in these tight formations yielded a maximum of 150 bopd and the rate was declining very fast.

Leading the campaign from the front were NK Verma, MD and PK Rao, Director (Operations), ONGC Videsh who visited the field along with CEO- Imperial Energy, S. Durga Prasad to review the activities. In the very exacting Siberian winter when the field temperature was as low as minus 35 degree Celsius, their presence gave the much needed impetus. Their guidance during the course of planning and execution was of great inspiration to team Imperial.

Around 80% of the reserves of Imperial Energy are locked up in low permeability tight reservoirs with very low permeability (hard-to-recover) and are difficult to exploit profitably with conventional methods.  After due diligence, Liberty Resources, a Denver, USA based company having wide experience in exploitation of hard-to-recover reserves through multistage fracturing in horizontal wells, was engaged as technology partner.

Imperial Energy is a fully owned subsidiary of ONGC Videsh Ltd., an international arm of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. Imperial Energy assets are located in Tomsk region, Russia, which is a part of West Siberian petroliferous Basin. The Imperial acreages are located around Ob River. A cornerstone for Imperial Energy, this breakthrough will bring much desired turnaround and pave way for future successes.

Article originally found on http://www.ongcvidesh.com/ongc-videshs-major-breakthrough-at-imperial-energy-russia/