UOP to provide deep-conversion technologies for Russia’s oldest refinery

Honeywell's UOP announced that Russia’s Mendeleev Group will use UOP process technologies to increase yields of transportation fuels to meet growing demand and stricter environmental regulations.

UOP’s state-of-the-art technologies will enable Mendeleev Group to fully convert crude oil while maximizing production of high-quality, ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD).

“UOP’s technology will enable Mendeleev Group to produce high yields of diesel fuel without producing any less valuable fuel oil, allowing them to maximize the value of their crude oil feedstocks,” said Pete Piotrowski, senior vice president and general manager of UOP's process technology and equipment business. 

“UOP is pleased to provide Mendeleev Group with basic engineering design for the project, which will be one of most advanced deep-oil refining complexes in the world. Selecting UOP as a managing licensor for this project will ensure its rapid delivery and a successful start-up," he added.

UOP, Mendeleev Group and Northwest Production Co. worked together to develop the processing scheme for the new refinery, which will use the most advanced technologies to convert up to 96% of each barrel of oil processed.

UOP will provide all of the upgrading and treating process technologies for the new complex, which will process 3 MMtpy (65 Mbpd) of crude oil and is scheduled to start up in 2018. The transportation fuels produced will meet Euro V fuel standards, which limits the sulfur content in transportation fuels.

The facility will use Honeywell’s UOP Uniflex process and the UOP/Foster Wheeler Solvent Deasphalting process to convert heavy residue to high-quality distillate products, while minimizing co-products. UOP’s Uniflex processing technology was developed to help refiners processing the bottom of the barrel, the heaviest portions of a barrel of crude (vacuum residue,) to higher-value transportation fuels than competing upgrading technologies.

The refinery will also use UOP’s Unicracking hydrocracking and distillate Unionfining hydrotreating processes to upgrade vacuum gasoil and other feed streams to produce high-quality distillates such as diesel. UOP CCR Platforming, Par-Isom and naphtha hydrotreating processes will be used to produce gasoline with octane ratings up to 95 RON.

Along with basic designs services, UOP will supervise the preparation of project engineering documentation in the form of Stadia Proekt, which is required to apply for Russian design and authority approvals.

A power block will also be integrated into the new complex allowing it to consume byproducts from crude processing and steam produced within the process units. The complex will be energy self-sufficient and highly efficient in terms of total utilities consumption.

Design of the crude and vacuum units will be provided by Process Consulting Services through an alliance with UOP.

The Yaroslavl Refinery, named after D.I. Mendeleev, is the part of Mendeleev Group. This year it celebrates its 135th anniversary, and it is the oldest refinery in Russia. 

In addition to producing high-quality oil products, the construction and further operation of Mendeleev Group’s new complex will lead to significant improvements in Russia’s social climate due to job creation and increased tax returns.