Kazan University and Chinese Colleagues Share Knowledge of Enhanced Oil Recovery
Delegates from KFU visited an international conference in China.
The conference took place in Karamai, Xinjiang Autonomous Region. KFU's team was headed by Vice-Rector, Director of the Institute of Geology Danis Nurgaliev and Head of SAU EcoOil Mikhail Varfolomeev.
The three-day forum was attended by the biggest Chinese universities (Peking University, China University of Petroleum, and others) and industry leaders (PetroChina, Xinjiang Keli Chemical Co., and others). PetroChina has already had much experience in implementing advanced recovery technologies like in-situ combustion and steam-assisted gravity drainage. The guests from Kazan could thus compare their work to what has been achieved by Chinese professionals.
Vice-Rector Nurgaliev commented, “What amazed me here is local companies' huge experience in this area. Nothing of sorts can be found in Russia. And all this has been made by a single company. It's no surprise that our research is of interest for them – they have had the chance to witness the effectiveness”.
Dr. Varfolomeev added, “Chinese companies today place their priorities in heat treatment methods of recovery enhancement. KFU is one of the world leaders, and they are eager to cooperate with us, conduct joint research, invite us to visit”.
As expected from the abovementioned interest, three cooperation agreements were signed. Two educational ones are between KFU and Southwest Petroleum University, and the Institute of Geology and the Center for Oil Recovery Enhancement, respectively. The first batch of students and postgraduates from SWPU is scheduled to arrive at KFU in 2017. The third agreement was signed by KFU with PetroChina and Xinjiang Keli Chemical Co.
The agreement with PetroChina includes works in Karamai. Experts from KFU will serve as consultants in in-situ combustion, 3D modelling, and – possibly in the future – underground refining catalysts, the ones that are currently being researched at the In-Situ Combustion Lab and Rheology and Thermal Chemistry Lab at KFU.
