New Technology in Russia Could Triple Efficiency of Hard-to-Reach Oil Extraction

A breakthrough from Gazprom Neft and nuclear industry partners may unlock up to 9 billion tons of hydrocarbon reserves at a fraction of the current cost.

Russian engineers have developed a new technology that reduces the cost of extracting hard-to-recover oil resources by a factor of three, according to Gazprom Neft. The innovation could enable access to an estimated 9 billion tons of hydrocarbons.

The advancement stems from collaboration with industrial partners in the nuclear sector. More than ten solutions aimed at unlocking challenging reserves have already been tested at Russian oil fields. These complex geological formations account for over 60% of Russia’s reserves and this fact underscores the significance of the new method.

Experts say Russia has built a unified scientific and industrial ecosystem—with government support—focused on increasing oil recovery. Full-scale implementation of the technology would allow for the development of previously untapped reserves and the launch of new exploration projects.