Scholarly record
ASSESSMENT OF THE POTENTIAL OF FORMATION WATERS AS A SOURCE OF VALUABLE ELEMENTS IN MATURE OIL FIELDS OF THE VOLGA??URAL PETROLEUM PROVINCE
Abstract
This paper evaluates the potential of formation waters from mature oil fields of the Volga–Ural petroleum province as a source of valuable components. The study addresses the growing demand for strategic elements such as lithium, bromine, strontium, and rare earth elements, and the need to identify alternative resource bases. The research is based on a review and analysis of published geochemical data on produced waters from major oil fields, including Romashkinskoye, Orenburgskoye, and Arlanskoye. The concentration ranges of associated components were compared with industrial threshold values, and geochemical indicators of element accumulation were assessed. The results show that formation waters are highly mineralized and, in many cases, contain bromine, iodine, and strontium at or near industrially significant concentrations. However, data on trace and rare elements remain limited. Lithium concentrations are generally low, but its presence, combined with large volumes of produced water, indicates potential for extraction under optimized technological conditions. Key factors influencing economic feasibility include water mineralization, Mg/Li ratio, stability of chemical composition, and production scale. Two priority zones for further exploration are identified: areas unaffected by freshwater injection and deeper, highly mineralized horizons with prolonged water–rock interaction. The study highlights the necessity of detailed geochemical investigations using modern analytical methods to refine resource assessment and support technology selection.
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References10
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