China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec), China's largest oil refiner, announced its latest technological innovation, which improves the exploration efficiency of oil reservoirs with a high natural decline rate.

The innovation, undertaken by the group's northwest oil field, roots its major application significance in effectively delaying the estimated production decline stage of oil wells.

Tahe oil field, a major petroleum and natural gas production base in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, has seen its annual decline rate drop from 17 percent in 2016 to 13.9 percent this year, thanks to the innovation, according to experts participating in the group's project review.

It has also reduced the cost of crude oil per barrel by 3.75 U.S. dollars, generating a direct economic benefit of 1.04 billion yuan (about 155 million U.S. dollars).

The technical method not only helps better identify underground caverns of oil storage below 6 km but also increases accuracy when calculating the detection radius around the oil wells, to better guide the fine mining.

It also improves the efficiency of oil extraction by pumping groundwater back into the well, allowing oil bodies less dense than water to rise.

In 2025, the oil field's annual decline rate is expected to fall to below 12 percent, the group said.

Tahe oil field is located in the Tarim Basin, one of China's largest petroliferous basins. Developed by Sinopec's subsidiary Sinopec Northwest Oil Field Company, the oil field has scattered underground caverns with a high natural decline rate.

(Top image via VCG)

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency