06:49, 13 December 2025

Russia Taps Digital Technologies to Revive Mature Oil Fields

Alexander Barinov explains how digital transformation and innovation are helping Russia uncover additional reserves and increase production at long-developed fields.

Despite the fact that Slavneft-Megionneftegaz’s core oil fields in the Khanty-Mansi region were discovered decades ago, the company is not only maintaining output there, but actively increasing production by identifying new accumulations.

The key to this success, according to CEO Alexander Barinov, has been the systematic adoption of advanced exploration, drilling, and digital modeling technologies.

Mature Fields as an Opportunity for Growth

“A mature asset base is an opportunity for development. I consider working with such fields a great advantage, because there are still many areas where drilling can continue and additional reserves can be found,” Barinov said in an interview with Infotek.

He cited a recent example: in early 2025, a new reservoir was discovered at the long-developed Lugovoye field, and a newly commissioned well is now producing 400 tons of oil per day. The result was achieved through a new interpretation of seismic data using modern tools, including elements of artificial intelligence, combined with the construction of detailed digital models.

The company is also placing special emphasis on hard-to-recover reserves, whose share in its portfolio continues to grow. “We are actively developing the pre-Jurassic complex. Recently, we launched our first well producing from Paleozoic formations — the oldest oil in Western Siberia,” the head of Megionneftegaz noted. Developing such complex assets has become possible thanks to advances in technology and high-resolution reservoir modeling.

Digital Transformation as the Core of Operations

To improve economic efficiency, the company is consistently reducing both the time and cost required to build wells. The introduction of the “Technical Limit” methodology, modernization of drilling rigs, and a shift to optimized well design have reduced average drilling time to 24 days.

Digital transformation now underpins all operational processes. The company is creating and using digital twins of oil fields, enabling rapid adjustments to development plans. Drilling sites are being equipped with the “Digital Drilling” 3.0 system, capable of operating with minimal human involvement. The expansion of video analytics and monitoring systems also helps prevent hazardous situations in both transportation and production facilities.

“Today, Megionneftegaz is an integrated system where technology and people are inseparable. That is our strength and the foundation of future success,” Barinov said.

Extractive industry