Hydraulic Fracturing Adds 18% to Planned Oil Output
Orenburgneft exceeded its planned oil production from hydraulic fracturing by 18%. The project was designed using the RN-GRID (RN-GRID hydraulic fracturing simulator) corporate simulator, which forecast fracture propagation and optimized injection parameters.
A pilot large-scale hydraulic fracturing (fracking) operation was carried out at the Tarashchanskoye field. The injection volume – 100 tons of proppant per operation – set a regional record for the Volga area. Orenburgneft is one of Rosneft’s key production assets in the region. The subsidiary conducts extraction and production activities across the Orenburg and Samara regions. Its cumulative oil output exceeds 480 million tons.
The Era of Industry Software
The corporate software not only calculated the efficiency of each stage but also ensured operational safety when handling record volumes of proppant – a granular “propping agent” used to keep induced channels open and increase well productivity. The outcome reflects high-precision engineering and careful selection of candidate wells.
High-volume fracturing creates an extended, highly conductive flow pathway within the reservoir. As a result, mature wells with declining output – where gains cannot be achieved through conventional expansion methods alone – effectively get a second life. This allows aging assets to return to economic viability.
A Tool for Efficiency Gains
Digital simulators developed by the company’s research institute are improving operational performance and driving production growth in the region. The approach is expected to be applied across a significant number of wells in the Kolgan formation, where the Tarashchanskoye field is located.
Geologists will continue refining the process of selecting candidate wells for hydraulic fracturing using reservoir and formation-level hydrodynamic models. Work will also continue on optimizing fracturing fluid compositions and injection regimes. These steps are expected to improve oil recovery factors, enhance field development efficiency and support more rational use of subsurface resources.
Although this is a relatively narrow segment, the precedent matters. Russian digital tools in the upstream segment – from exploration to surface extraction – are no longer just replacing Western software. They are becoming practical instruments for boosting recovery rates and improving output at existing assets. Rosneft’s upstream product portfolio now includes dozens of solutions. Meanwhile, RN-GRID has already been commercialized and is used well beyond the company itself.
Surpassing Foreign Alternatives
In 2020, Rosneft announced an expansion of its high-tech software portfolio. The company brought seven solutions to the external market, becoming the first Russian developer of proprietary software for geology, field design, development and operations.
Both developers and industry partners say Rosneft’s software significantly outperforms foreign analogues in technical capabilities, while remaining noticeably more cost-effective. The first product Rosneft introduced to the external market was the RN-GRID hydraulic fracturing simulator. It is the first industrial-grade simulator in Eurasia capable of handling the full set of engineering calculations required for design and analysis. Since its release, it has been adopted by 28 Rosneft subsidiaries and 32 oil and gas production and service companies. By 2022, reportedly more than 400 commercial licenses had been sold. A supply agreement has also been signed with China, marking an early step in realizing the solution’s export potential.
High-tech software is also in demand among Russian universities. Eight institutions have received 495 academic licenses from Rosneft free of charge to support education and training.
Gaining Independence
The development of technological sovereignty in a strategic industry is becoming increasingly visible. If the current momentum continues, Russian hydraulic fracturing simulators and related products could intensify competition in the global market for upstream software.
The product line continues to expand. In August 2024, Rosneft reported further development of the RN-KIM (RN-KIM reservoir simulator), which models fractured wells in detail and is integrated with the RN-SIGMA (RN-SIGMA geomechanical simulator). This marks a shift from standalone tools toward a fully integrated digital environment for end-to-end reservoir modeling.
