Gazprom Neft modernises bitumen facility at its Omsk Refinery

A comprehensive upgrade of the bitumen facility at the Gazprom Neft Omsk Refinery has now been completed, allowing an expansion in the product range of bitumen binders, as well as improving the energy efficiency of the plant, extending run-life from two to four years, and reducing environmental impacts. Total investment in the project, undertaken as part of the full-scale modernisation of the Omsk Refinery, totalled RUB1.4 billion.

Modern equipment allows more flexible adaptation of operating processes at the facility in producing different brands of bitumens, improving efficiency in fulfilling orders and despatching finished products to customers.

The inclusion of an additional block for component mixing as part of the manufacturing chain has made possible the production of 14 different brands of bitumens, all compliant with the latest GOST 33133-2014 and STO 2.1-2011 standards. The key feature of the plant’s revamped range is the extended performance metrics of each brand, giving consumers the opportunity of choosing precisely the product most durable under specific climatic conditions and traffic loads. Bitumen materials produced by the Omsk Refinery are traditionally supplied — as well as throughout the Siberian Federal Okrug — to the Russian Far East, the Urals, and the countries of Central Asia. The project is being undertaken by Gazpromneft Bitumen Materials, operator of the Gazprom Neft bitumens business.

Eliminating the use of recycled water, through the use of antifreeze in a closed-circuit cooling system, will significantly reduce the environmental impacts of bitumen production. Cutting-edge energy-efficient design solutions envisage using the heat reclaimed from bitumen production to heat feedstock, reducing consumption of process fuel by 66 percent, with steam consumption being reduced by 90 percent through steam pumps being replaced by modern electric ones.

Dmitry Orlov, CEO, Gazprom Neft Bitumen Materials, commented: “At the same time, this is also a challenge of national importance, because the extent of the bitumen industry’s successful development depends, ultimately, on the quality and modernity of Russia’s roads.”