History
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NIPI "Neftegas" – the history of which is 80 years has prominent achievements in development of oil industry and oil science not only in our republic, but whole former USSR. Whole history of the Institute’s activity is closely connected with the foundation and development of oil-gas complex in our country.
Starting from the 20-th of the last century exploration, development and exploitation of oil deposits in Azerbaijan involved realization of large volume scientific research, engineering and experimental works by highly-qualified different profile personnel, as well as foundation of the institution, capable to mobilize and solve the problems facing oil sector. Intensive rates of field reconstruction and exploration of new areas, as well as an extensive sweep problems facing petroleum experts required systematic scientific investigations, that was too hard due to available reserves and potential.
In 1929 Soviet of People’s Commissars Counsel passed a resolution about foundation of oriented Azerbaijan Oil Research Institute – AzNII in Baku. Thus, for the first time in the East, here was founded a scientific centre for performance of large-scale scientific researches for onshore oil fields’ survey, exploration, and development.
Shortly after foundation of the institute such urgent matters, like switch to rotary drilling system, scientific feasibility evaluation of rapid drilling were resolved. Development of turbine drilling in Republic became one of the greatest achievements of the institute.
From the first days of foundation the institute carried out researches in various directions for development of oil production technology, as a result the calculations were performed and a theory of liquefied gas eduction column was created, theoretical and practical aspects of deep well pump oil production were substantiated, methods for optimal facility selection while wells operation were developed and applied in production, a detailed study and correlation of oil bearing objects section within Baku oil bearing area, sedimentary petrography, producing reservoir properties, physical properties of oil, gas and formation water was conducted. Also there was developed a microfaunatic correlation method of oil-bearing formation section, which is principal while stratigraphic oil-bearing objects division, methods of physical oily rocks properties study according to granulometry (method of AzNII), porosity, permeability, carbonate content, etc.
Institute developments are widely applied in Azerbaijan oil fields and in the fields of the former Soviet Union as well. Scientific-research works for the first time in the word allowed to apply bottom-up development system of the reservoir.
As a result of investigations, performed by the Institute, there was developed a long-term comprehensive programme, which determine basic trends in onshore exploration in Azerbaijan and in the Caspian water area.
Based on the Institute’s recommendations exploration works were carried out, development draft and process flow diagram for oil fields Kurovdag, Mishovdag, Kursengi, Garadagli, Zagli-Zeiva, Gurgan-deniz, Neft Dashlari, Darvin’s bank, Gum-deniz, Sangachal-deniz, Duvanny-deniz, Khara-Zira-deniz, Bahar, etc, had been prepared.
The Institute has great achievements in development of sand control, gas hydration control, paraffin and scale control methods, corrosion control of oil field facility and installations. Incompetent pre-bore rocks reinforcement method by synthetic-base and polymer compositions, methods of chemical and thermal treatment developed by the Institute were successfully applied at oil fields in Azerbaijan, Tatarstan, Bashkiria and Republics of Central Asia.
Expansion of the Institute’s scientific –research activity and upgrading of its material and technical base required reorganization of AzNII. In 1945 two Institutes were founded on the basis of AzNII, exactly: Azerbaijan Scientific-Research Oil Production Institute (AzNIIDN) and Azerbaijan Scientific–Research Oil Refining Institute (AzNIIPN). In 1962 Azerbaijan Scientific-Research Oil Drilling Institute-AzNII Burneft-was founded on the basis of AzNIIDN drilling department.
From July 1, 1970 AzNIIDN and AzNII Burneft were integrated into a single scientific-research and project organization-Azerbaijan Scientific–Research and Project Institute of Oil industry- AzNIPI Neft.
Development of oil and gas processing industry in the Republic required enterprises engaged in engineering of oil and gas processing plants. For solution of the given tasks in 1938 the Institute “Azgiproneftechim” was founded. Within former Ministry of Petroleum Industry this Institute was the General Designer of New-Baku (at present Baku Refinery named after H.Aliyev), Baku (at present “Azerneftyag”), Volgograd, Fergana, Krasnovodsk (at present Turkmenbashi), Chimkent, Charjou (at present Seydin) oil refineries. Azerbaijan gas processing plant was projected and built as per the Institute’s design. The Institute has developed a lot of type plants, including atmospheric-vacuum oil refining plant with 2-3 MTA producing capacity, solvent refining plant with 300-600 thous. TA producing capacity, monoethanolamine gas-treating plant etc.
During reconstruction of Turkmenbashi Oil Refinery the Institute designed the cooling system for recirculated water supply, high-capacity polypropylene producing complex, primary oil distillation plants and a cat cracker were constructed in Poland, a cat cracker in Romania, coking inhibition plant in India, etc.
Offshore fields discovery and development in late 50-s required solution of a number of problems connected with design and construction of special hydro technical units, referring hydrometeorology, metal corrosion, oil and gas wells drilling, preparation and transportation of produced products, preparation of useful field development system, etc. Therefore in 1949 the Scientific –Research and Project Institute “Gipromorneftegaz” was founded as a head Institute in former Soviet Union for design of offshore oil and gas fields development objects. Guidelines for the Institute action involved design of the following objects: prospect, exploration and operation wells; oil and gas field hydro technical installations; oil and gas collecting preparation and transportation facility; formation pressure control system; oil and oil products, gas and water storage tanks; compressor and pump stations; field and mainlines; oil refineries and gas processing plants; auxiliary field production facilities; industrial projects; other than production facilities.
The Institute had designed the construction of piers and pier-adjacent sites with more than 400 km length, more that 300 offshore fixed platforms (number of wells runs from 1 to 24, well depth-to 6000 m), 14 deepwater fixed platforms for 84-160 m sea depth. The length of seagoing pipeline is more than 2000 km. On the basis of the Institute’s results offshore and gas fields were developed and produced crude oil was transported to onshore industrial facilities. Technical and technological basis for manufacturing, transportation and construction of oil and gas field installations have been developed. Problems connected with offshore plants and installations’ corrosion protection were solved and a lot of norms and specifications were prepared therefore. One of the important theoretic–experimental investigations of the Institute consists in geologic zoning of the Caspian according to hydrometeorological conditions and valuation of wind, flow and sea-way indices, considered while offshore oil-gas fields developmen.
Specialists of the Institute performed significant works for design of various production and social purpose facilities. Important latest social projects include: ecologic park on the area of OGPD named after G.Z.Tagiyev in Baku, Medical-Diagnostic centre in Lenkoran, city stad in Shirvan, Residential Complex in Lok-Batan.
In 2003, by order of SOCAR, the Institute “Azgiproneftechim” became a structural subdivision of GosNIPI “Gipromorneftegas”, and in 2007 AzNIPINeft was renamed into the Institute of Scientific Researches, and “Gipromorneftegaz” – into the Institute “Neftegazproject”.
NIPI “Neftegas” was established by executive order of SOCAR’s President №95, 21.07.2009 pursuant to the Decree of the President of the Azerbaijan Republic №126, 20.07.2009 “About upgrading of SOCAR’s structure”, due to the integration of SOCAR’s two institutes – the Scientific Research Institute and the Oil Gas Project Institute.
Thanks to balanced policy of SOCAR’s Management, aimed at latest scientific and technologic achievements, the Institute is currently a major enterprise, capable to perform complex scientific-researches and design works on high-quality level and within shortest terms.
Institute departments are headed by specialists having much design and scientific development experience. High-quality of the Institute’s products is well-known not only in Azerbaijan but also abroad. The Institute processes highly-efficient technical means for performance of projects on high technical level. Using of up-to-date facility together with advance software allows performing work on the high level within shortest time, so the enterprise occupies a leading place in Azerbaijan due to scientific- research works and projecting of fuel and energy complex objects, and goes on with development.
The Institute, founded in 1929, today is one of the largest scientific centers in oil industry. High scientific-technical potential and extensive long-year experience of scientists and specialists guarantee advanced solution of complex scientific and engineering tasks while oil fields development within various mining-geologic conditions.
Scientific investigations of physical and chemical properties of oil, gas, water and core, demulsifies utilization possibility, determination of drill-muds properties and other investigations are performed on modern certified devices and laboratory units, which meet International Standards.
NIPI “Neftegas” is equipped with modern computer hardware and problem-oriented software.
Information base, gathered during many years, is one of the Institute’s properties. The Institute scientific-technical library fund includes more than 80 thousand books, 100 thousand of scientific-technical magazines and other publications.
The Institute has licenses for performance of more then 50 types of engineering-survey works on the territory of Azerbaijan Republic and provides its Customers, working on oil and gas industry, with design documentation for oil and gas production, preparation and transportation facility construction, reconstruction and work over.
The quality management system of the institute engineering processes is certified by DNV Company in accordance with ISO 9001:2008.
Scientific-research works in the area of geology (searching, development), oil and gas field developments, carried out by the institute are certified by SGS Company in accordance with ISO 9001: 2008.
NIPI “Neftegas” has an extensive work experience with large companies and small oil companies from many countries as well.
It allows for the Institute to expand its relations with both long-standing and new business partners.