Skoltech is an international graduate research-focused university that was founded by the group of world-renowned scientists in 2011. Skoltech's curriculum focuses on technology and innovation, offering Master's programs in 11 technological disciplines. Students receive rigorous theoretical and practical training, design their own research projects, participate in internships and gain entrepreneurial skills in English. The faculty is comprised of current researchers with international accreditation and achievements.

Gazprom Neft and Skoltech to endow petroleum reservoir simulation with artificial intelligence

Gazprom Neft Science & Technology Center and Skoltech launch the next phase of their joint project to create AI-based digital reservoir models using machine learning methods for the digital simulation of formation flows. The project outcomes are expected to allow decisions on capital-intensive operations, such as hydrocarbons production, to be made in a much faster and more efficient manner.

Skoltech’s research teams, led by Professors Dmitry Koroteev, Evgeny Burnaev and Ivan Oseledets, performed extensive groundwork and, in particular, developed unique meta-modeling algorithms that make the simulation hundreds of times faster in comparison to the conventional hydrodynamic models of oil and gas deposits.

The Center’s experts were positive about the prospects of implementing these Skoltech innovations in their operations. The oil industry experts and scientists will now spend a year working together on the end-user product to be installed at Gazprom Neft’s deposits.

“We have been successfully collaborating with Skoltech on complex projects in geology, design of new super-hard materials, machine learning technologies, and digital modeling. We expect the new findings to significantly enhance the informational value of the reservoir flow simulation. This in turn will improve the quality of the decisions taken, while the machine learning methods will enable faster analysis of output data,” said the Center’s General Director, Mars Khasanov.

“The reservoir flow meta-modeling project is an excellent example of using machine learning technologies for faster prediction of hydrocarbon deposit dynamics. This is also an emblematic case of addressing the fundamental oil and gas engineering problems using the latest advances in artificial intelligence,” says Skoltech Professor, Dmitry Koroteev.

Gazprom Neft is a vertically integrated oil company; its main activities range from the exploration and development of oil and gas fields, to oil refining and the production and marketing of petroleum products. Gazprom Neft group includes upwards of 70 oil producing, oil refining, and marketing entities in Russia, the former Soviet republics and beyond. One of Russia’s three largest oil producers and oil refiners, Gazprom Neft ranks among the world’s 20 largest oil companies in terms of proven and prospective hydrocarbon reserves, which total 2.78 billion tons of oil equivalent according to SPE-PRMS. In 2017, its oil production and oil refining volumes reached 89.8 million tons of oil equivalent and 40.1 million tons, respectively. Gazprom Neft’s products are sold across Russia and exported to more than 50 countries. Its retail chain comprises over 1,850 petrol stations in Russia, CIS, and Europe. As of the end of 2017, Gazprom Neft’s net profit amounted to 253 billion rubles, showing 26.5% growth since 2016. The company is an industry leader in terms of increase in overall financial performance and ROI. The biggest share is held by Gazprom (95.68%) and the rest of the shares are in free circulation.

Gazprom Neft Science & Technology Center engages in the research and development of oil production technologies and remote control of high-tech production processes. The Center’s goal is to increase oil output and production efficiency by introducing ground-breaking technologies and innovative design solutions at its oil and gas fields.

The Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) is a private graduate research university. Established in 2011 in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Skoltech cultivates a new generation of researchers and entrepreneurs, promotes advanced scientific knowledge and fosters innovative technology to address critical issues facing Russia and the world in the third millennium. Skoltech applies the best Russian and international research and educational practices, with particular emphasis on entrepreneurship and innovation.
Web: https://www.skoltech.ru/

Contact information:
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