(MENAFN - Qatar News Agency) Qatar Petroleum and TOTAL have signed a Research & Technology agreement on Carbonates Acid Stimulation.
This project aims at increasing hydrocarbons production in Qatar, by addressing a major concern in carbonates oil and gas fields: improving significantly the efficiency of acid stimulation, QP said in a statement.
Indeed, hydrocarbons geological reservoirs are carbonates reservoirs in Qatar. These carbonates dissolve in acid. Thus, the main idea of this project is very simple: injecting acid in wells dissolves a part of the rocks, thus improving the permeability of the reservoirs and hence the productivity of the producing wells.
The research carried out by QP and TOTAL will especially focus on highly permeability-contrasted formations and, at the same time, mitigate un-wanted water production.
The Project inaugurates the general technical partnership established within the Technology Cooperation Framework Agreement signed between QP and TOTAL in November 2011. The two companies will work together, having a joint team in the domain of well Acid Stimulation in the Qatar Scientific and Technology Park (QSTP), which is an entity from the Qatar Foundation.
Qatar Petroleum has recently re-enforced its expertise in Acid Stimulation, via academic partnership. Following this initial step, QP wanted to partner with an international industrial player, namely TOTAL, having a large expertise in this domain.
The main objectives of the partnership will focus on building up lab testing and research capacity in Acid Stimulation in Qatar, developing innovation with expertise and advancing people skills in several aspects.
TOTAL, the 5th largest IOC, has a long-term partnership with the State of Qatar (TOTAL operates 100% of the Al Khalij field) and has established a strong expertise in Carbonates Acid Stimulation in the Middle East.
Through Its participation in South-Pars and Dolphin developments, in the last decade, TOTAL has a track record in complex well acid stimulation. Since 2010, TOTAL Research Centre Qatar (TRC-Q) located at the Qatar Science & Technology Park, has been running a carbonates acid stimulation project, conducting lab testing, scaling-up and modeling for Qatar.
"QP and TOTAL are very happy to team up in their close-by research facilities located at QSTP. This project agreement reflects QP and TOTAL desire to collaborate on activities where both companies share a close vision of future needs of Qatar s Energy Industry.
Their main goal is to trigger innovative solutions to match future challenges in Acid Stimulation", said Mr. Issa Al-Ghanem, President of QP Strategy, Research and Technology.
Stephane Michel, Managing Director of TOTAL E&P Qatar recalled the long-term presence and commitment of TOTAL in Qatar. He stressed the importance for TOTAL of this first research and technology partnership.
"By developing an innovative expertise and enhancing people skills, by improving the production of energy resources from existing fields and newly developed ones, this agreement is fully in line with Qatar National Vision 2030", Michel added.
