“The new physical mechanism” of viscosity reduction of petroleum fluids was suggested in a series of recent publications. The key idea is that magnetic field treatment aggregates colloidal particles inside a crude oil into larger ones, thus decreasing viscosity. On the basis of new experimental data and the analysis of well-proven theoretical models, we conclude that this “physical mechanism” in magnetically treated oils appears to be non-existent. In particular, as revealed by our optical measurements, magnetic treatment results in disaggregation of colloidal particles in a crude oil.

The region of the Barents and the Kara seas is considered to be extremely rich for energy resources, primary gas. Nowadays this area is divided between two Russian majors -Gazprom and Rosneft. These companies have several projects with their foreign partners: Statoil and Eni in the Barents, ExxonMobil in the Kara Sea. All of these projects are in their early stages (feasibility study, exploration works) but both the experts and the management of the companies agree that production from this region requires enormous investments at a potential high-risk level. This is due to very harsh environmental conditions that put limits on usage of the earlier proved technologies and techniques, personnel, etc.Moreover some of the regions might not be developed by means of only one company and to be bold enough to state it by the means of one country.One of the very promising areas is the well-known Barents Sea with its unique fields like the Shtokman and others. Unfortunately the investment decision for the Shtokman project is regularly put off and there are certain reasons for it. Another area, which is now under active exploration, is the Kara Sea. It's not a secret that this sea is even more severe than the Barentstremendous ice cover, icebergs, and challenging meteorological conditions. The paper anticipates a new concept that proposes to use the Novay Zemlya archipelago as a cluster base for development of the whole region of the eastern Barents and western Kara seas. In this case the so called "unitization principle" can be implemented that might improve economics of field development due to less overall investments in common infrastructure.It is proposed to build an LNG plant on the archipelago that will be capable to treat gas from several fields, a pipeline system and a port for LNG takers. The pipeline system should be optimized in order to meet production levels from the fields as well as the capacity of the LNG plant. The paper introduces an approach to the problem of pipeline route optimization which is based on multi criteria principle. Total cost of construction and maintenance of pipeline along certain route is determined as a function of several parameters (water depth, presence of ice/icebergs, soil conditions, slop, etc.) and has to be minimized in this model. The problem of optimum pipeline route is solved with the means of modified algorithms from the graph theory.

Константин Корнишин, РН-СахалинНИПИМорнефть Ярослав Ефимов, Российский Государственный Университет нефти и газа им. И.М. Губкина/Университет г. Ставангера, Норвегия Авторское право 2011 г., Общество инженеров нефтегазовой промышленности Этот доклад был подготовлен для презентации на Конференции SPE по разработке месторождений в осложненных условиях и Арктике 18-20 октября 2011 года в Москве, Россия.Данный доклад был выбран для проведения презентации Программным комитетом SPE по результатам экспертизы информации, содержащейся в представленном авторами реферате. Экспертиза содержания доклада Обществом инженеров нефтегазовой промышленности не выполнялась, и внесение исправлений и изменений является обязанностью авторов. Материал в том виде, в котором он представлен, не обязательно отражает точку зрения SPE, его должностных лиц или участников. Электронное копирование, распространение или хранение любой части данного доклада без предварительного письменного согласия SPE запрещается. Разрешение на воспроизведение в печатном виде распространяется только на реферат объемом не более 300 слов; при этом копировать иллюстрации не разрешается. Реферат должен содержать явно выраженную ссылку на авторское право SPE.

This paper presents field results and analysis of iceberg towing experiments performed in the Barents and Kara Sea in 2016-2017. For the first time ever in the industry, this research was based on a complex study of the icebergs origin and properties. For that purpose prior to the trials outlet glaciers of Novaya Zemlya, Franz Josef Land and Severnaya Zemlya were examined with airborne radar that allowed to measure their thickness and to build 3D models. Satellite remote sensing data were used to derive glacier fronts position, ice surface flow velocity, changes of glacier margins, and parameters of iceberg distribution. The data on the flow rates of the main glaciers were compared with the satellite beacons equipped with GPS (ARGOS) installed on several glaciers. Empirical relationships were derived to determine the mass and geometry of icebergs based on instrumental measurements and airborne data in the Barents and Kara seas. All this information was used to estimate iceberg towing possibilities in different conditions, analyze obtained data and deeper understand the process. Influence of oscillations during the towing process was studied. For a wide range of towing speeds, drag force coefficients were determined for icebergs of various sizes and shapes. Experimental iceberg towing operations performed in ice fields during the early stages of ice formation are described. These works were conducted in October 2017 in the Kara sea. Limitations of iceberg towing under different ice conditions are determined and discussed. Technological features of towing operations within negative air temperatures and the presence of sea ice are also highlighted.

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