Kazan Federal University named Technological Partner of the Year by Gazprom Neft
Kazan Federal University has become one of the winners of the “Recognition of the Best” competition, which is held annually by Gazprom Neft. The university was recognized in the Reliable Partnership nomination (Technological Partner sub-category).
“Gazprom Neft is one of Russia’s most advanced oil and gas companies, both in terms of production volumes and management standards. They have established an excellent system for working with universities. KFU is a member of the company’s League of Universities. To ensure long-term and mutually beneficial cooperation, the Gazprom Neft-KFU Research and Education Center was established at Kazan University. We have three main areas of interaction, selected because, in the opinion of the company’s experts, Kazan University holds leading positions in Russia in these fields: the development of gas-condensate fields; chemical methods of enhanced oil recovery; and digital tools and new approaches in geological exploration and field development. Our university staff also work at the company’s office in St. Petersburg. This active joint activity allows us to achieve excellent results,” says Vice-Rector for Earth Sciences and Director of the Gazprom Neft-KFU Center Danis Nurgaliev. “This award is a motivation for us; we will strive to meet the company’s requirements and continue to fulfill all its orders at the same high level, giving our 100 percent.'”
He noted that in 2024, KFU and Gazprom Neft signed a cooperation agreement in oil chemistry.
According to Mikhail Varfolomeev, Director of the Small Tonnage Chemica Technology Park and Chair of the Department of Petroleum Engineering, the partnership model between KFU and the company has been in place for more than five years.
“We have joint publications and joint patents. Together, we host a number of major international conferences that bring together representatives of the academic community and oil production companies. For example, the Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery conference annually gathers several hundred leading specialists not only from Russia but also from other countries, serving as a platform for exchanging views and developing new areas of cooperation,” notes M. Varfolomeev. “Thanks to this reliable partnership, many of our developments have been introduced into production. Implementing joint projects, we have repeatedly gone from a scientific idea to product creation and implementation at the company’s facilities. Every year, commissioned by Gazprom Neft, we carry out dozens of projects in various fields, ranging from geology and field development to enhanced oil recovery methods, production stimulation (including inflow profile conformance, bottomhole zone treatment, and hydraulic fracturing), oilfield chemistry, gas condensates, and digital technologies. Cooperation is also underway in the educational sphere through the implementation of Master’s degree programs. Furthermore, KFU is actively developing small-scale chemistry and, within the framework of our interaction with the company, implements the full product creation chain – from idea to pilot production.”
One example of successful interaction between the university and Gazprom Neft occurred in September of last year, when the IGPT hosted a strategic working session for specialists from the company’s subsidiaries.
“For a number of years, the company has assisted in holding specialized conferences, participating not only in their funding but also in shaping the scientific agenda. Gazprom Neft experts serve on organizing committees and participate in reviewing reports and discussing scientific results. We are grateful for this systemic support, expert participation, and contribution to developing the interaction between academic science and the oil and gas industry,” notes Vladislav Sudakov, Deputy Director for Marketing at the Gazprom Neft-KFU Center.
