KFU providing expertise in enhanced oil recovery in Vietnam
A delegation from Kazan Federal University paid a working visit to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam from February 22 to 27.
The delegation included Mikhail Varfolomeev, Director of the Kazan Federal University’s Small-Scale Chemical Technology Park and Chair of the Department of Petroleum Engineering, and Dmitry Zharkov, engineer at the Laboratory of Chemical Methods of Enhanced Oil Recovery and Flow Stimulation.
“During our stay in Vietnam, we held a number of negotiations and scientific and technical meetings with oil producing and oilfield service companies, as well as meetings of the working group on the implementation of a joint project in chemical methods for enhanced oil recovery,” Varfolomeev said.
The first stage of the visit included sessions on oil and gas, enhanced oil recovery methods, well treatment technologies, and oilfield chemistry with the oilfield services company DMC and its CEO Thang Tu.
“We were able to identify several promising areas for developing cooperation, including inhibitors, demulsifiers, and reagents for treating wells to combat complications,” added Dr Varfolomeev.
A number of events were held at the Russian-Vietnamese joint venture Vietsovpetro. During these sessions, new technologies were presented to the management and staff of the company’s field development department and research institute.
“The main focus was on enhanced oil recovery. Chemical, gas, and combined EOR methods, acid treatment methods, and other similar techniques were presented. The company showed great interest in our innovations, as some of its key fields are in the advanced stages of development, and KFU has a significant scientific foundation, as well as practical experience in the area of interest to them,” the interviewee continued.
Further steps to develop cooperation between Vietsovpetro and KFU were discussed at a meeting attended by the company’s Deputy General Director for Geology and Development, Lam Anh.
“We also held a series of meetings with the management of PVChem, a subsidiary of the national oil company PetroVietnam. It is responsible for chemical and service solutions in the oil production industry,” Dr Varfolomeev noted.
One of the key parts of the visit was a meeting of the working group on the implementation of the joint project by PVChem, DMC, and KFU for Vietsovpetro.
“Pilot tests of chemical flooding at one of the company’s fields to enhance oil recovery were discussed,” the scientist said.
According to a KFU representative, the meeting lasted several days.
“This project involves the commercial application of surfactant-polymer flooding technologies at one of the company’s fields in late 2026 – early 2027. During the meetings, we defined and detailed all stages of the work, developed a detailed plan, and discussed the available materials. We reviewed all the necessary data and agreed on the research methods necessary for the successful implementation of the project,” added Zharkov.
It is noteworthy that KFU is establishing this cooperation channel the during the Year of Scientific and Educational Cooperation between Russia and Vietnam. It began with the participation of a Vietsovpetro delegation in the 4th International Scientific and Technical Conference on Chemical Methods of Enhanced Oil Recovery.
