3D Models Add Dynamic Capabilities to Oil and Gas Engineering
Rosneft's engineering design institute in Ufa has expanded its Unified 3D Components Catalog for the oil and gas industry by developing more than 250 dynamic models of equipment and components, giving engineers greater flexibility and speed when designing industrial facilities.
A dynamic model can change its parameters, geometry, or behavior during use. On average, a single dynamic 3D model replaces more than 1,000 variations of the same component, allowing engineers to select equipment parameters for project documentation much more efficiently.
Unlike a static object, a dynamic 3D model can "move" by adapting its dimensions, materials, design features, or interactions with surrounding equipment while the engineer is working. For example, a dynamic model of an air-cooled heat exchanger for a compressor station allows designers to select the optimal configuration instead of manually evaluating multiple alternatives. Engineers simply run different operating scenarios, and the system automatically generates the technical description and complete equipment specification required for project documentation.
All new dynamic models have been developed using the latest engineering standards and regulatory requirements. That helps ensure reliable engineering calculations while keeping completed designs aligned with industry specifications. Individual components in the Unified Catalog serve as building blocks for digital models of entire industrial facilities, including process units, plant sites, and pipelines. To support continued development, the institute regularly updates the catalog as industry standards evolve. The Ufa institute is also strengthening workforce capabilities by developing 3D modeling training programs through its Educational Center, where more than 100 specialists complete training each year.
Building Toward an Industry-Wide Digital Ecosystem
Within Russia, the technology is expected to evolve toward broader use of digital twins throughout the entire asset lifecycle, from engineering and construction to modernization, technical upgrades, and operations. One of the industry's largest companies, Rosneft, reported in 2024 that it had deployed information modeling technologies developed by its own research institute. Those tools have already been used to design hundreds of facilities, while the Unified 3D Components Catalog supports engineering for process units, plant sites, pipelines, and other industrial assets.
The information model helps verify that facilities can be operated safely. The same digital project is then used during reconstruction and technical modernization. The institute's digital engineering team regularly updates the catalog to reflect changes in industry standards. One of the institute's largest 3D projects is the gas pre-treatment unit at Rosneft's Barsukovskoye field. The digital model includes more than 90 structures covering an area of over 250,000 square meters. Elements from the information model have also been added to the company's Unified Catalog.
Toward KiberTEK
The Ufa institute's development closely aligns with a broader industry initiative announced at the federal level in 2025. The initiative, known as KiberTEK (CyberTEK), aims to create a digital twin of Russia's oil industry capable of modeling and optimizing decisions at the national level.
In that context, existing corporate 3D models and digital twins become the foundation for a broader industry-wide data management framework. KiberTEK is expected to improve operational efficiency, increase transparency across the sector, and, over time, support more flexible taxation while accelerating optimization and the adoption of best available technologies and operating practices. The industry-wide digital twin is targeted for completion by 2050.
At Gazprom Neft, digital twins and artificial intelligence already play a significant role in production digitalization. In 2025, the company reported that more than half of its oil and gas production is supported by these technologies.
LUKOIL has also contributed to the industry's digital transformation. In 2022, the company launched a digital twin of the Batyrbayskoye field in Perm Region. The platform supports complex engineering decisions throughout the production lifecycle, enables production forecasting under different operating scenarios, and helps engineers select the most effective technical solutions. A year earlier, the company introduced Russia's largest digital model of an oil field – the digital twin of the Vatyeganskoye field.
Building a Foundation for the Future
From an industry perspective, the Ufa institute's work strengthens Russian capabilities in TIM (Building Information Modeling), 3D engineering, digital twins, and engineering software. More accurate engineering design and fewer errors on large-scale projects improve the reliability of the energy sector while strengthening the resilience of the domestic market.
