Given the highly competitive environment of the global oil market due to the ongoing slump in oil demand because of substantial increase of oil production in the world, and a number of other factors, it is critical to improve the overall economics of oil production, and, in particular, to improve the oil recovery factor on mature fields. As light oil reserves decrease, oil companies shift their focus on exploration and production of unconventional hydrocarbon reserves. Republic of Tatarstan possesses considerable unconventional hydrocarbon reserves in tight formations and in domanik sediments, which might be a viable alternative to conventional oil, though more challenging in terms of production and research considering, among other factors, high Russia’s dependency on import. In conditions of severe competition, technology development and introduction of technological innovations on a wide scale can only be the basis of sustainable development of the oil sector. As innovations have become the main competitive advantages of oil-producing companies, demand for high-tech solutions will never decline. As things stand now on the Russian oil producing market, the sustained oil production, to say nothing of production increase, is only possible on condition of commercial application of advanced technologies. Considering the market development trends, as well as the structure of the Russian hydrocarbon reserves, it seems reasonable to concentrate efforts on research and development (R&D) and innovation activity. This paper presents the Tatneft’s experience in pilot production of heavy oil in Company’s license areas in the Republic of Tatarstan, and in development of novel reservoir management technologies. An approach to planning of pilot production in complex, heterogeneous, and shallow heavy oil reservoirs is discussed.
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