OREANDA-NEWS. March 16, 2010. OAO Tatneft has decided to design a plant for in-field processing of extra-viscous oil (EVO) under the technology proposed by Governmental Unitary Enterprise "Crude Oil Refining Institute" (GUP "INPKh", Ufa). Currently, the Institute began its preparatory phase of the project design documentation, reported the press-centre of OAO Tatneft.

The main products of the plant will be deasphaltenized and unoxidized (residual) paving bitumen characterized by high performance properties, resistance to thermal-oxidative aging processes and better adhesion properties to the mineral components of asphalt/concrete mixtures. It is envisaged to use petroleum distillates, received in the processing as a backup fuel for the steam generators. The steam produced will be used to heat the extra-viscous oil in the reservoir and to generate electricity.

Production capacity of the plant will be 300 thousand tons of raw materials per year. If the project proves to be effective, then subsequently it is expected to set up such plants directly at the sites of the raw materials production.

Tatarstan possesses considerable reserves of the extra-viscous oil. According to various estimates its resources are in the range from 1.5 to 7 billion tons. TATNEFT is the first oil company in Russia, which started pilot development and production of the extra-viscous oil in 2006. The Ashalchinskoye field was selected as a main target for the development, where over 18 thousand tons of extra-viscous oil was produced in 2009.