OREANDA-NEWS. May 23, 2013. Members of the Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agricultural Affairs of the State Council of the Republic of Tatarstan visited the facilities of JSC TATNEFT. The delegation also included representatives of the supervisory and regulatory bodies: Rosprirodnadzor, Rospotrebnadzor, Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Tatarstan.

The event participants visited the facilities of the Oil and Gas Production Boards "Yamashneft" and "Almetyevneft" of the Company, as well as the ones of the oil service companies of the Republic: "TMS Truboprovodservis", which is part of "TMS Group" Management Company.

Visiting the facilities of TATNEFT was timed to the on-site meeting of the State Council committee. The deputies familiarized themselves with the environmental activities of the Company, compliance with the legislation in this area and the utilization of associated petroleum gas. The visit participants were presented the concept of the JSC TATNEFT's environmental activity, environmental and resource saving technologies of the Company taking into account the requirements of the Russian legislation and increasing the efficiency of crude oil production.

The environmental work of the Company focuses on three main areas: protection of air, land and water resources. In addition, diagnosis of pipelines is carried out. Approximately 3,000 km of pipes are checked annually and preventive measures are performed.

The Committee members visited DNS-8 of NGDU "Yamashneft", where they were demonstrated the operation principle of the piston gas powered electrical plant for generation of electricity from associated gas. Put into operation in 2008 the plant runs on sulfurous gas. Such units are currently also implemented in Orenburg and Samara regions, where "Yamashneft" oversees the facilities of the Company. The generated electricity is used for covering the in-field needs.

An alternative to these gas engine installations are Capstone gas turbine power plants, which are also being introduced at the production facilities of TATNEFT. One of them has been put into operation in the same NGDU.

The event participants also visited a plant for processing of oily materials at NGDU "Yamashneft". The decision of TATNEFT to build NShU (Oil sludge processing plant) allowed reducing transportation costs, as oily wastes from drilling and cleaning of vertical steel vessels are processed locally.

The guests got acquainted with the hydrocarbon vapor recovery (ULF) unit at the "Almetyevsk" custody transfer point of NGDU "Almetyevneft". Such systems are currently installed at all the tank farms of the Company totaling 44 ULF units, which have recovered more than 1.5 million tons of hydrocarbons over the period of their operation. Also here at the "Almetyevsk" custody transfer point receiving crude oil from the NGDU and small oil companies the air quality control system has been established, the signal of which is relayed to the operator's workstation.

The deputies and guests praised the environmental activity of JSC TATNEFT in the course of visiting the Company's facilities.