OREANDA-NEWS. A pilot high-pressure (up to 200 atmospheres) hydro-process unit was commissioned at the LUKOIL-Nizhegorodniinefteproekt Research and Development Center (Kstovo, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast).

The unit can model any conditions of industrial hydro processes and assess the activity, selectivity and stability of catalysts by different manufacturers. The modeling makes it possible to make accurate prognoses and efficiently run industrial hydrotreaters and hydrocrackers in order to enhance the oil conversion rate and the production volumes of Euro-5-compliant automobile fuel. The high-pressure hydro-process unit commissioned at LUKOIL-Nizhegorodniinefteproekt has no rivals in industrial research labs and scientific centers in Russia.

The research and development center in Kstovo was established in October of 2012. The center is a joint project of the LUKOIL-Nizhegorodniinefteproekt Research and Development Establishment and the LUKOIL-Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez Refinery.

The center is designed for the development and commercialization of energy- and resource-saving technologies and is equipped with a cutting-edge analytical base and pilot units for hydrotreatment, hydrogen concentration, extraction and bitumen production, all operated from a single control room.

“The opening of the Research and Development Center is a significant contribution made by our company towards the development of the industry-related science in Russia with the aim to enhance the efficiency of oil and gas processing, improve the quality of petroleum products and also promote new resource-saving technologies,” Vladimir Nekrasov, LUKOIL First Vice President, commented.