JSC LUKOIL-UKHTANEFTEPERERABOTKA COMPLETES MODERNIZATION OF ITS AT-1 ATMOSPHERIC DISTILLATION UNIT
Tuesday, May 8, 2001
A modernized crude atmospheric distillation unit (AT-1) went on stream today at JSC LUKOIL-UKHTANEFTEPERERABOTKA (LUKOIL-UNP) in Ukhta, the Komi Republic.
The modernization of the AT-1 unit, begun in 2000 without halting the production, has been carried out by JSC "Kompania Neftekhimmontazh-LK" as part of the comprehensive "JSC LUKOIL-Ukhtaneftepererabotka Reconstruction Program for the Period of 2000-2005.
As a result of the modernization, the unit's annual production capacity will reach 3.3 million tons of oil, the efficiency of refining will increase, with the share of light petroleum products going up by 13%, whereas the energy consumption will go down, including by 15.8% in electricity, and the emission of pollutants will be cut down significantly.
The LUKOIL-UNP Modernization Program was adopted in late 1999, following the company's merger with JSC LUKOIL. As the Komi Republic Government gave the Program its full support, a general overhaul of all the facilities started in 2000 and a new railway trestle was constructed for loading light oils. The next stage of the modernization envisages, among other things, the construction of a diesel fuel hydrodewaxing unit with an annual capacity of 850,000 tons, the overhauling of units for catalytic reforming, vacuum distillation and bitumen production, and the reprogramming of the AT-2 unit for visbreaking purposes.
The aim of the Comprehensive Program is to bring the share of high-octane gasoline up to 45% of the overall gasoline production figure and begin the production of ecologically-safe diesel fuel with a sulfur content not exceeding 0.05%. The Program, when implemented, will also enable the company to produce diesel fuel for the Arctic conditions, aviation kerosene and also improve its ecological performance indicators. It is expected that the implementation of the Program will boost the refining efficiency of LUKOIL-UNP up to 65-70%.
