Gazprom Neft has been able to produce additional oil revealed following the digital processing of geological data at the Vyngarupovskoye field in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug (YANAO). These new strata, which were previously difficult to locate using traditional methods, were first identified via a self-learning programme developed by the Gazprom Neft Science and Technology Centre, in collaboration with IBM Services. With the help of the programme, Gazprom Neft has been able to produce oil from these strata without extra drilling costs or the need to create additional infrastructure.

This system is the only one of its kind currently available on the market. The programme was developed based on the specialist experience of Gazprom Neft Science and Technology Centre employees, and the pilot project involved the repeated analysis of data from over 3,000 wells in the Vyngapurovskoye field and the identification of new areas of potential. Commercial operations have confirmed the presence of hydrocarbons in these target zones. As a result of testing, oil-inflows have been obtained without the need for additional infrastructure.

The programme processes hundreds of gigabytes of data from thousands of wells across the field, simultaneously analysing around 60,000 outputs from geophysical investigations. Using a combination of both historical and newly available geological data, the neural network searches for patterns which indicate where strata — previously unidentified due to their small size or complex structure — might be located. Work on electronic data processing and the search for additional reserves in the field takes under a month.

Vadim Yakovlev, First Deputy CEO, Gazprom Neft, commented:

“Together with our partners, Gazprom Neft is developing and implementing cognitive systems which can support us with drilling, interpreting geological information and conceptual design. Artificial intelligence, which has been trained in line with the experience of Company specialists, is able to process huge volumes of industry information, and enables us to extract oil that would once have been inaccessible.”

Luq Niazi, IBM’s Sector Global Managing Director, commented:

“IBM helps clients in the fields of digital automation, AI and transformation across complex operational processes and supply chains. The conduct of physical field tests of technology jointly developed for Gazprom Neft was an important event for us. We are very pleased with the results of our first tests and we would like to emphasize that this was made possible by the collective work of experts from both the companies.”

About Gazprom Neft

Gazprom Neft is a vertically integrated oil company, primarily involved in oil and gas exploration and production, refining, and the production and sale of oil products. The Gazprom Neft’s corporate structure comprises more than 70 production, refining and sales subsidiaries throughout Russia, the CIS, and abroad.
The company’s proved and probable reserves (SPE-PRMS) are estimated at 2.78 billion tonnes of oil equivalent (btoe), making Gazprom Neft one of the top-20 largest oil and gas companies in the world, and one of Russia’s top three largest companies in terms of production and refining volumes. Total production in 2017 reached 89.75 million tonnes of oil equivalent (mtoe), with refining volumes of 40.1 million tonnes.
Gazprom Neft products are exported to more than 50 countries worldwide, and sold throughout the Russian Federation and abroad. The company’s filling station network totals more than 1,850 outlets throughout Russia, the CIS and Europe.