Confidently mastering core technology

After more than 36 years of oil and gas exploitation by the Vietnam-Russia oil and gas joint venture (Vietsovpetro), the output at White Tiger and Dragon oil fields has increasingly decreased.

The RC-10 of the Dragon oil field is a tripod, independent BKM platform

To solve the problem, a group of scientists from Vietsovpetro's Science Research and Engineering Institute, including Dr. Bui Trong Han, Dr. Le Viet Dung and M.Sc. Bui Hong Duong came up with a solution, “Carrying out research on and designing a mini well head platform for oil and gas exploitation at the Vietnam - Russia Joint Venture Vietsovpetro.”

Dr. Bui Trong Han - the project leader - said, the project has successfully researched and designed three models of mini BK platform (BKM), suitable for specific conditions where Vietsovpetro plans to build the platform.

“The construction volumes of these BKM platforms have reduced from 28 to 53 percent compared to that of previous traditional BK platforms. The design documents for the BKM platforms have all been approved by international and Vietnamese registration agencies,” Dr. Han said.

According to the research team, the solution has been successfully applied by Vietsovpetro to construct and put into operation many projects at the White Tiger and Dragon oil fields, such as the BK-20 platform (in 2019), BK-21 platform (2020), BK-19 and BK-18A platforms (2021), RC10 platform (2022), and RC-8 platform (mid-2023).

A representative of the research team receives the third prize of the Vietnam Science and Technology Innovation Award 2022

In addition, the solution can be applied to many other areas and oil and gas fields of Vietsovpetro as well as of other companies on the Vietnamese continental shelf.

US$867 million saved

It was estimated that the solution helped save about US$867 million, including design and operation costs of oil and gas exploitation projects and revenues to the State budget from the sale of exploited oil from Vietsovpetro BKM platforms.

Nguyen Xuan Tien - Director of Vietnam Fund for Supporting Technological Creations (Vifotec) - said, the project, which won the third prize of the Vietnam Science and Technology Innovation Award 2022, showed the capability of Vietnamese engineers in general and of Vietsovpetro in particular in the design, manufacturing, upgrade, and repair of oil and gas works without having to hire foreign contractors.

In addition, thanks to the successful implementation of the solution, from 2019 to 2023, Vietsovpetro built six BKM platforms at the White Tiger and Dragon fields, with the expected crude oil output recovered from these areas of about 3.479 million tonnes, contributing to ensuring energy security for the country.

In particular, this solution can be further applied and bring more efficiency in the future. In addition, the construction and exploitation of oil and gas from BKM platforms has contributed to creating a chain of related services such as procurement of materials and equipment, construction and installation of drilling works, operation services (like chemicals, oil and gas collection and transportation...), crude oil trading and processing; thereby, creating jobs and promoting Vietnam's socio-economic growth. The success of the solution has also highlighted the enterprising spirit of Vietnamese young engineers.