OMV Energy – Technology and Digitization
Innovation and technology are key elements in OMV's implementation of its new Strategy 2030. OMV is always looking for innovative solutions to optimize operations, evaluate business opportunities, and develop new business models. Digitization is the unifying discipline and an important building block for all technologies.
OMV drives innovation, technology & digitization
Tools and systems developed internally in recent years, as well as new ways of working and cross-geographical and cross-disciplinary teams, enable the application of available technology to new markets, e.g., Low Carbon Business, and well-maintained assets to promote rapid global implementation.
Key objectives include:
- Producing additional oil by applying technology in the area of Smart Oil Recovery (SOR) – an innovative method for optimizing Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) in older reservoirs. The next generation of the EOR method uses alkali viscous saltwater with increased mobilization efficiency, especially in Austrian reservoirs.
- Development of a competitive and carbon-optimized portfolio by researching
o new energy feedstocks (e.g., the extraction of synthetic crude oil from plastic residues),
o new technologies (e.g. hydrogen production from renewables, hydrothermal liquefaction or enzymatic conversion of CO2), and
o new products (e.g. electricity, advanced liquid and gaseous products).
OMV’s innovation & technology portfolio – selected project highlights
OMV is among the best in the world in terms of achieving high recovery rates in mature fields. While the international average recovery rate for crude oil is about 40%, OMV succeeded in increasing production rates of wells in the super-mature Matzen field in Austria, pushing ultimate recovery above 55% by using water injection. In 2012, OMV started a pilot project for viscous saltwater injection in the Matzen field in Austria. OMV is currently pursuing its Smart Oil Recovery 3.0 Program by testing a combination of viscous saltwater and alkali to increase ultimate recovery.
Close cooperation between OMV experts and external research institutes has yielded impressive results in artificial lift methods, including measurable reductions in power consumption and downtime of sucker rod pumps. In 2017, nearly 6,500 wells were equipped with artificial lift systems, leading to considerable savings in operating expenditures. In Austria, the number of well interventions could be decreased by 22% from 190 in 2015 down to 116 in 2017, lowering operating expenditures by 20%. This does not include additional cost savings due to the reduction of production deferments.
Extending the lifetime and reliability of materials and facilities is an OMV priority for ensuring safe, sustainable and cost-efficient hydrocarbon production. OMV implemented extensive corrosion control and material selection programs for optimum equipment performance and maximum service life, saving more than EUR 450 mn over the past 20 years. With the recent increase in sour crude, pipelines and processing equipment degrade faster than usual. OMV is investigating new technologies, such as nanotechnology coatings, to improve
material resistance and reliability. This approach has also had a major positive impact on health, environmental and safety issues. Additionally, OMV developed a plastic lining for tubing, patented in 16 countries. Lined tubing is tubing where crosslinked polyethylene pipes are inserted to protect the tubing from abrasion and corrosion.
Within OMV’s nanotechnology department, research is directed to increase integrity, improve production and finally reduce operating costs. Initial tests started with a successful first pilot in Romania, where the cost for chemicals to avoid paraffin problems could be reduced substantially. Additionally, the number of well interventions could be lowered.
Technologies for the treatment of saline reservoir water
During the production of oil, salt water is produced from the oil reservoir. After many years of oil production, the produced water content in the production stream can be 95% or more. In other words, the valuable oil stream is only 5%. Therefore, effectively managing the produced water is essential for producing oil in a cost-efficient way. Thus, OMV develops and implements innovative and environment-friendly technologies for effective cleaning of produced salt water. This is the foundation for Improved and Smart Oil Recovery where salt water is reinjected into the reservoir and mobilizes incremental oil. By that, we close the produced water loop and take care of our environment.
DigitUP: Transforming OMV into a digital enterprise
With the Digital Journey OMV has implemented its strategy for digital transformation to become a digital leader in its field, unlocking smart opportunities among our entire value chain. The digital transformation is driven by key initiatives orchestrated across the entire group, which are built on three pillars: Digitalize, Act & Enable.
DigitUP – Project Highlights
BestDay, a production performance management tool, was co-developed by OMV and Cognite, rolled-out within less than a year and continuously improved trough agile sprints to reveal all facets of production performance. By using data-driven AI modeling and thanks to the built-in deviation detection logic, BestDay app creates real-time organizational visibility and enables a team of experts to reduce deferment events through improved response time.
The BestDay app went live in OMV Austria’s mature assets. Since then, the way to track the production for over 800 active wells has tremendously changed. BestDay’s outstanding collaborative environment with unique dashboarding features integrates production real-time data on all levels of Production Systems within one single application. Charged with consolidated insights at a granularity never experienced before BestDay is pushing the boundaries. With that BestDay effectively empowers teams across divisions to transform exhausting routines into a passionate quest to repeat their best day – again and again.
Learn more about the BestDay app in the video produced by our partner Cognite:
DigitUP – Use cases
Strategic partnership with Cognite and Schlumberger
