The sanctions of the West became a technological challenge for the Russian gas industry, but Russian companies have accepted the call. It has resulted in top-quality equivalents and our own unique solutions intended for gas mining and transportation, but also for the space industry.
The progress made by the Russian science and industry was presented at the IMPORT SUBSTITUTION IN THE GAS INDUSTRY Corporate Exposition arranged during the St. Petersburg International Gas Forum. Gazprom Spacecraft Assembly, Integration and Testing Facility, which deals with development and production of space vehicles, presented three of their projects, namely Yamal 502, Smotr R, and Smotr V, all of them satellites. They intend to finalize the first one in 2027. As soon as it enters the geostationary Earth orbit, it will be able to ensure access to the Ka-band sky-fi all across Russia, including Eastern Siberia and Far East − together with Yamal 601, which has already been launched. The new device is designed with a life of 15 years. Its throughput capability is relatively high, reaching 39 Gbit/sec. It will be possible to use it to allow Internet access both for Gazprom and private parties. According to Alexey Titov, Head of PR Service at Gazprom Space Systems, the overall price of the project, including launching and insurance costs, is going to exceed $140 mln.
The company intends to finish building Smotr R and Smotr V in 2025. The first of these two satellites is intended for radio location monitoring of the production infrastructure, control of safety areas at potentially hazardous facilities, oil contaminations, and ice situations. Smotr V is intended to monitor the condition of pipelines. It can discover methane leaks and is equipped with high-resolution electrooptical devices, as well as a gas sensor.
Gazpromtrans brought a new product of their own design − a gas engine highly maneuverable locomotive TEMG1 that runs on LNG. It has got two gas piston engines with overall capacity of 1006 hp. It can reach the speed of 100 km/h max and has the approximate life of 50 years.
‘Currently, it is being pilot run at the Orenburg affiliate of Gazpromtrans. In fact, the locomotive has been in operation since summer 2022, it’s been delivering tank wagons to be filled. It has already transported more than 3 mln tons of cargo. For reference purposes, we have a diesel locomotive, which has transported 3.4 mln tons of cargo within the same period, which makes them comparable,’ said Vladimir Razmadze, Head of Railway Tracks and Traction Stock Operation Office at Gazpromtrans. LNG costs about two times less than diesel fuel, and in case a locomotive is used to transport liquefied gas tanks, it can be refuelled right at production sites. According to the pilot run results, TEMG1 is being continuously upgraded and improved. Gazpromtrans has already started to work on the production technical assignment. The production output is expected to be thousands of locos.
Gazprom Helium Service exhibited a Russian-made tank container for LNG transportation. KTs.T75-45/0.8 prototype is intended for transportation of six low-temperature products, namely ethylene, ethane, oxygen, nitrogen, and argon, by automotive, railway, and sea vessels. On the order of Gazprom Helium Service, all the production facilities engaged are located in Russia. These tanks containers are made by Uralcryomash.
Gazprom Neft presented their holographic 3D technology used to model gas mining units. The company has made a complete and accurate model of the unit at the Pestsovoye Field. It can be used to train employees who are going to work there. With this model, they can study all the technical processes at the station, starting with the unit gas inlet and finishing with its outlet. Moreover, thanks to this innovation, the engineers can see how the unit might be modified for better effectiveness and higher safety.
Gazprom Energoholding Industrial Assets presents several of its achievements at once, all of them associated with the import substitution policy. One of them is the magnetic bearing system, which is produced by Nevsky Zavod (St. Petersburg). It is the first Russian system of this kind. Moreover, it is based on Russian elements, materials, and software.
Gazprom Avtomatizatsiya delivered one more home-made project for the gas sector − the automatic system designed to manage a turboexpander, which can also control the magnetic bearing (also based on Russian-made elements). By the way, it is already being supplied to Gazprom’s companies and used by them. Previously, the similar equipment was delivered by the French SKF company.
In its turn, Gazprom Gazobezopasnost showcased patented equipment of its own design. It is intended for emergency response at well sites along with repair and recovery works as regards to installation and replacement of Xmas trees. ‘All the equipment is produced and tested by our company. Our equipment is unique and patented, and it doesn’t have any equivalents. It is only made in Russia,’ outlined Dmitry Moskvichev, Head of Department at Gazprom Gazobezopasnost.
Almaz-Antey Air and Space Defence Corporation demonstrated a surface column of their own design. Being of the casing type, it works as a high pressure barrier between the well fluid and the environment when the well is constructed and operated.
Import Substitution in the Gas Industry Corporate Exposition was also participated by Russian Helicopters Holding, Aktivy, Gazkholodtechnika, Hydroaerocentre, Grasys, HMS Group, DST Ural Plant, Road Vehicles Plant, Izmeron Factory, Camelot Publishing, Kovrov Mechanical Works, Micran, Moscow Institute of Thermal Engineering Corporation, Kraneks, Neftegazdetal, Neft Service, New Service Company, Perfobur Service, Tomsk Electromechanical Factory named after Vakhrushev, Turbulentnost Don, Central Design Bureau of Machine Building, Chelyabinsk Compressor Plant, Chetra, Enviogroup, and Energomash VTS.