An upgraded catalytic cracking unit KK-1 was launched by OOO LUKOIL-Permnefteorgsintez (the Perm refinery) today. This event is dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the Perm refinery which joined LUKOIL in 1991.

The unit upgrade lasted 8 months. The main elements of the unit are a 120-ton, 40 meters high reactor and a catalytic cracking regenerator. They were manufactured by AO Dzerzhinskkhimmash based in Nizhny Novgorod region. The technical and economical features of the KK1 unit can compare with similar foreign units. The productivity of the unit will reach 700 tons a year. Unleaded gasoline AI-92 output will amount to 374,000 tons a year, and A-76 gasoline production will be stopped.

The first stage of refinery upgrade was carried out in 1993-1996. It covered the vacuum blocks AVT-1, AVT-2, AVT-4, catalytic reforming units, retarded coking units, diesel fuel hydrofining units. Units of fuel oil vacuum distillation and mechanical and chemical sewage purification were built, lubricants producing unit was modernized.

Over the last 4 decades the Perm refinery processed 400 million tons of crude. The refinery employs 5,500 people. In 1997 the refinery processed more than 11.2 million tons of crude. Refining capacities utilization rate is 79%. Refining depth is 78-80%. In future it is expected to reach 81.3%. The Perm refinery produces unleaded gasoline only. The share of premium gasoline in the total gasoline production is 40%. About one third of diesel fuel is produced with low content of sulfur (0.05%).

Presently the Perm refinery is carrying out the second stage of upgrade with a focus on the construction of a T-Star hydrocracking unit under Texaco technology. The main element of the unit, a 900-ton reactor, has been already shipped from Saint Petersburg. The Company plans to build one more hydrocracking unit.

Next year it is planned to upgrade the KK-2 unit to increase its productivity from 400,000 tons to 1 million tons a year. After completing the refinery upgrade in 2001 the depth of refining will reach 82.6% and gasoline output will amount to 2.825 million tons (1.685 million tons in 1997), diesel fuel output will amount 3.549 million tons (2.595 million tons in 1997).

 

 

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Press Centre  OAO "LUKOIL"
phone.: (095)927-1677,  fax: (095)927-1653,
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