OREANDA-NEWS. May 18, 2012. Qatar Petroleum and Total signed a research and technology project agreement on carbonates acid stimulation, reported the press-centre of Qatar Petroleum.
 
This project aims at increasing hydrocarbons production in Qatar by addressing a major concern in carbonates oil and gas fields -- improving significantly the efficiency of acid stimulation. 

Hydrocarbons geological reservoirs are carbonates reservoirs in Qatar.

These carbonates dissolve in acid. Thus, the main idea of this project is simple: injecting acid in wells dissolves a part of the rocks, thus improving the permeability of the reservoirs and, hence, the productivity of the producing wells. The joint research between QP and Total will especially focus on highly permeability contrasted formations and, at the same time, mitigate unwanted water production. 

The project inaugurates the general technical partnership established within the Technology Cooperation Framework Agreement signed by QP and Total in November 2011. The two companies will work together, having a joint team in the domain of well acid stimulation in the Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP), which is an entity of the Qatar Foundation.

QP has recently reinforced its expertise in acid stimulation through a academic partnership. Following this initial step, QP wanted to partner with a major industrial player, namely Total, which has extensive expertise in this domain. The partnership will focus on building up lab testing and research capacity in acid stimulation in Qatar, thus developing an innovative expertise and developing people’ skills.

Total, the 5th largest international oil company, has a long-term partnership with Qatar (Total operates 100% of the Al Khalij field) and it has established a strong expertise in carbonates acid stimulation in the Middle East. Through Its participation in South-Pars and Dolphin developments in the last decade, Total has a track record in complex well acid stimulation. Since 2010, Total through its Total Research Centre – Qatar (TRC-Q), which is located at the QSTP, has been running a carbonates acid stimulation project, conducting lab testing, scaling-up and modeling in Qatar. 

“QP and Total are very happy to team up together in their close-by research facilities located at QSTP. This project agreement reflects QP and Total desire to collaborate on activities where both companies share a close vision of future needs in Qatar. Our main goal in this agreement is to trigger innovative solutions to match future challenges in acid stimulation,” said Mr. Issa Al Ghanim, Chairman of QP’s Research and Technology Steering Committee.

Mr. Stephane Michel, Managing Director of Total E&P Qatar, recounted the long-term presence and commitment of Total in Qatar, and he stressed the importance for Total of this first research and technology partnership. “By developing an innovative expertise and people’s skills and by improving the production of energy ressources from existing fields and newly developed ones, this agreement is fully in line with Qatar National Vision 2030,” Mr. Michel said.