Upstream Technologies

Optimizing drilling and production processes prolongs the lifetime of hydrocarbon reserves, thus increasing production efficiency and reducing the impact on the environment. OMV continuously works on optimizing the amount of hydrocarbons that can be extracted from an oil reservoir (recovery rate) and on extending the reliability of facilities and materials.

OMV is among the global front runners in terms of achieving high recovery rates in mature fields. By 2025, OMV aims to increase the amount of oil that can be extracted from selected fields in Central and Eastern Europe by 5 to 15 percentage points, making our Company a leader in efficient production in the region.

In 2012, OMV started injecting viscous saltwater to achieve higher recovery rates in a pilot project in the Matzen area in Austria. This launched our Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) activities and paved the way to attaining the strategic goal of further increasing the recovery rate. In total, 430,000 bbl of incremental oil were produced by the end of 2020. We were able to significantly increase oil rates compared to conventional produced saltwater reinjection. In 2020, OMV made further progress in rolling out EOR projects in various fields in Austria and Romania.

OMV has made considerable progress in developing new technologies and improving the operational performance of produced water treatment processes. In a series of field pilots targeting optimum produced saltwater quality for reinjection, OMV was able to identify innovative flotation and filtration technologies which can also effectively treat challenging emulsions. Thanks to the implementation of new technologies in running produced water treatment facilities, OMV greatly reduced the amount of water treatment chemicals used. Moreover, cleaning processes were finetuned to achieve a high quality of the injection produced water. Furthermore, OMV is investigating the possibilities for capturing CO₂ from its own assets and introducing it into former gas reservoirs to reduce OMV’s carbon footprint (carbon capture and storage [CCS] technology).

Extending the lifetime and reliability of facilities and materials ensures safe and efficient hydrocarbon production. Over the past 20 years, OMV has implemented extensive materials selection and corrosion management programs to ensure asset integrity, reduce safety risks, and minimize environmental impact. Applying these measures at nearly 6,500 wells with artificial lift systems resulted in measurable reductions in power consumption and downtime of sucker rod pumps. Consequently, the number of well interventions decreased by 25% in Austria, reducing associated HSSE risks accordingly. OMV is investigating nanotechnologies in the field of advanced coatings to extend material resistance, for enhanced oil recovery and well stimulation, in the field of chemicals to inhibit paraffin deposits to optimize the production process, and in the field of spill prevention and remediation for soil and water. OMV continues its cooperation with third-party research institutes on these technologies and is in the process of setting up programs together with other operators. OMV works on extending the lifetime of operational facilities by mitigating abrasion and corrosion. To this end, cross-linked polyethylene pipes are inserted in tubing with a special polymer lining that was developed by OMV and patented in 16 countries. In addition, OMV has performed pilot tests on polymer flowlines under various operating conditions, which will allow us to cut costs and increase the efficiency of flowline replacement.

Sustainability Strategy 2025 Target

• Increase the recovery factor in the CEE region in selected fields by 5–15 percentage points by 2025 through innovative Enhanced Oil Recovery methods

Status 2020

• More than 130 kboe additional production in pilot project in Austria in 2020
• Pilot EOR project started in Romania, with an initial increase in the recovery rate and in production in 2020

Action Plan to Achieve the Target

• Finalize the pilot EOR project in Romania
• Further mature the full field implementation project in two Matzen field reservoirs

SDG targets: 8.4 Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, in accordance with the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production, with developed countries taking the lead; 9.4 By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities; 12.2 By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources