Raw Material Base of Hard-to-Extract Oil Reserves of Russia

Abstract

The estimation of the share of hard-to-extract oil reserves in the deposits of Russia varies by different sources, in a fairly wide range (from 30 to 70 %). Due to the absence of a common approach to their definition, the variety of parameters used to estimate this share and fundamentally different conditions for the development of the groups of reserves classified as hard-to-extract become challanging. A significant share of the proven oil reserves of Russian oil fields - about 34 % (6.3 million tons) - belongs to heavy (oil density more than 0.871 g/cm3) and super-heavy (oil density more than 0.895 g/cm3). In general, the share of high-viscosity and super-highviscosity oils is about 13% (2.4 million tons). The largest share refers to the deposits of three districts. In lowpermeable collectors (permeability less than 0.05 μm2), huge reserves are concentrated – 8.2 million tons or 44.6 % of all oil. Comparison of oil extraction and reserves structure indicates a good correlation for oil extraction from low-permeable collectors in 41.8 % with reserves percentage in 44.6 % as well as a relatively good correlation in super-heavy oil in 13.4% with reserves percentage in 18 % and low rates for super-high-viscosity oil in 1.7% with reserves perecentage in 6 %. Significant proven reserves of high-viscosity oil in Russia indicate the possibility of increasing production with the introduction of modern, existing and proven, technologies under appropriate economic conditions. Full-scale involvement in the development of only the largest deposits of high-viscosity oil would allow the Russian Federation to produce at least 25-30 million tons in the medium term.

Experience in the Application of Hydrocarbon Optical Studies in Oil Field Development

“…Deterioration of the mineral base of the mineral resources sector in case of a complex economic situation requires implementation of modern resource-saving and energy-efficient technologies in the oil and gas industry [1,2]. Directions of oil production development are connected with development of the near edge zone of the Jurassic-Cretaceous sediment basin and increase of efficiency of Jurassic sediments development in Western Siberia [3], the development of shale complexes, such as the Domanic deposits of the Volga-Ural oil and gas bearing province [4].…”