Gazprom Neft and Schlumberger have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on developing digital services to improve efficiency in oil production, under a document signed by Andrey Belevtsev, Chief Digital Officer, Gazprom Neft and Rustam Biktimirov, Vice President for Digital Technologies and Integration, Schlumberger Russia and Central Asia.
The two companies have agreed to start joint activities in localising Schlumberger’s technological solutions on the Russian market, and to develop software for well-design and drilling. They will also develop advanced data-analytics tools for geological prospecting and hydrodynamic simulations Another key area for cooperation will be enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technologies for use under complex geological conditions. Other companies to be recruited in implementing this project include Nedra (an oil-production solutions developer and integrator, and part of Gazprom Neft’s contractors’ “ecosystem”), the Moscow Research Centre (a Moscow-government R&D agency) and Schlumberger’s Tyumen Competency Centre.
This partnership will secure the competitiveness of Gazprom Neft’s and Schlumberger’s joint developments in the light of Russian industry’s current dependence on import substitution in software and in security for cloud-based technologies. Gazprom Neft will have the opportunity to commercialise its joint developments with Schlumberger throughout Russia, while also offering its digital solutions to international partners through Schlumberger’s own “ecosystem”.
All new technologies will be developed on the basis of International Open Subsurface Data Universe (OSDU) standards — an international data platform building on decades of major international oil and gas companies’ experience.
Vadim Yakovlev, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board, Gazprom Neft commented:
“This is an example of international cooperation in the interests of the entire market. Together with our partners from Schlumberger we are going to start developing new innovative solutions and facilitate the best technologies being localised in Russia. This will open up major business development opportunities for both companies. These new solutions will be integrated into Gazprom Neft’s technological ‘ecosystem’ and will, going forward, be made available for all companies in the industry — on the domestic and international markets — to order”.
Andrey Belevtsev, CDO, Gazprom Neft commented:
“One of our priorities is developing an open industry platform and digital oil-production data-management technologies in conjunction with our international partners. Together we will also ensure these are integrated in line with current industry standards. To that end, our developments will be universal, accessible and user friendly — for all oil companies — in order to make their subsequent collaboration in developing joint ambitious projects simple and straightforward”.
Gokhan Saygi, President, Schlumberger Russia and Central Asia commented:
“Our focus on localising full-cycle digital product development is a key element of Schlumberger’s business in Russia — as is partnering with Gazprom Neft in working together on digital transformation. Signing this Memorandum of Cooperation is a logical — and important — landmark in developing an integrated and secure digital ecosystem, addressing those tasks facing Gazprom Neft as well as the wider industry in Russia, as a whole”.
Rustam Biktimirov, Vice President for Digital Technologies and Integration, Schlumberger Russia and Central Asia commented:
“Developing local partnerships and using open standards and tools for extracting value from data is an important precondition for full digital transformation. Local partnerships maximise the benefit of using a product-based approach — from initial R&D to supporting integrated solutions — and create the tools for digital transformation. Joining forces here will mean our two companies can maximise synergies and deploy digital solutions throughout Gazprom Neft’s technology stack within a short timeframe, in full compliance with the requirements of all regulatory agencies in the Russian Federation”.
