Space satellites, holographic 3D modeling, magnetic suspensions and blades: Russian companies have demonstrated their success in import substitution in the gas industry
The Western sanctions have posed the technological challenge to the domestic gas industry. Russian companies have responded it with high-quality analogues and their own unique solutions, which relate not only to issues of gas production and transportation, but also to the space industry.
Achievements of Russian science and industry were presented at the Corporate Exhibition “Import Substitution in the Gas Industry” held as part of the St. Petersburg International Gas Forum (SPIGF). “Gazprom SPKA”, which develops and manufactures spacecrafts, presented three projects: “Yamal-502”, “Smotr-R” and “Smotr-V” satellites. The first device should be completed in 2027. After entering geostationary orbit, it will be able, in conjunction with the already launched “Yamal-601”, to provide access to satellite Internet in the Ka-band throughout Russia, covering Eastern Siberia and the Far East. The device is designed for 15 years of its operation. The satellite has high bandwidth – up to 39 Gbit/s, it will be able to provide access to the network both for the needs of “Gazprom” and for private individuals. According to Aleksey Titov, Head of Public Relations at “Gazprom Space Technologies”, the project cost, including the launch and the insurance, will amount to over 140 million US dollars.
“Smotr-R” and “Smotr-V” are scheduled to be completed in 2025. The first satellite is designed for radar monitoring of the industrial infrastructure, monitoring of safety zones of potentially dangerous facilities, oil pollution and ice conditions. The “Smotr-V” device is designed for monitoring the condition of pipelines: it can detect methane leaks, and is furnished with high-resolution optoelectronic equipment, as well as the gas analyzer.
“Gazpromtrans” has demonstrated a new domestic development – the TEMG1 LNG-powered maneuverable locomotive. It is equipped with two gas piston engines with their total capacity of 1,006 hp. Its maximum speed is 100 km/h, and its estimated service life is 50 years.
“Now it is undergoing pilot operation at the Orenburg Branch of “Gazpromtrans”. The locomotive has actually been operating since the summer of 2022: it is engaged in loading of tank cars. It has already transported cargoes with the total weight of more than 3 million metric tons. We compare it with a diesel locomotive, which transported 3.4 million metric tons of cargo over the same period, which is comparable”, said Vladimir Razmadze, Head of the “Gazpromtrans” Track and Traction Management Department. The LNG cost is almost 2 times lower than the diesel one, and if the locomotive is engaged in transporting containers with liquefied gas, then it can be refueled directly at the production points. The TEMG1 is constantly updated and improved during its pilot operation. “Gazpromtrans” has already begun working out the terms of reference for its production, which may amount to thousands of units.
“Gazprom Helium Service” LLC showed at the Exhibition its tank container of domestic production for LNG transportation. The KC.T75-45/0.8 model is designed for transportation of six cryogenic products – ethylene, ethane, oxygen, nitrogen and argon – by road, rail and sea. Their production by order of “Gazprom Helium Service” is localized in Russia. The tank container is manufactured by “Uralkriomash” JSC.
PJSC "Gazprom Neft” presented the technology of holographic 3D modeling of gas production facilities. The company has built the complete and accurate model of the complex at the Pestsovoye field. It allows training the staff to be going to work there. The model shows in detail all the technical processes at the station, from the gas inlet to the installation to its exit from it. Moreover, this innovation makes it possible for engineers to understand what can be changed in the installation for greater performance and safety.
“Gazprom Energoholding Industrial Assets” LLC presented several its achievements in import substitution. One of them is the magnetic suspension system, which is manufactured by JSC “Nevsky Zavod” in
St. Petersburg. This is the first such domestic system based on Russian components, materials and software.
“Gazprom Automation” has shown another domestic development in this industry – the automatic control system for a turbodetander unit with the magnetic suspension control function, which is also based on Russian components. It is already supplied and used by “Gazprom” enterprises. Previously, similar equipment was supplied by the French company “SKF”.
“Gazprom Gazobezopasnost” LLC, in turn, demonstrated proprietary equipment of its own production designed for eliminating emergency situations at wells, and implementing repair and restoration works – installation and replacement of fountain fittings. “All the equipment is manufactured and tested by our company. Our equipment is unique, patented, and has no analogues, it is manufactured exclusively in Russia”, said Dmitry Moskvichev, Head of the Safety Department at “Gazprom Gazobezopasnost”.
JSC “Concern VKO “Almaz-Antey” presented a conductor column of its own production, which is a casing string, and performs the function of a high-pressure barrier between the fluid and the environment during the well construction and operation.
The Exhibition “Import Substitution in the Gas Industry” has also been participated by JSC “Vertolety Rossii”, LLC “Aktivy”, LLC “Gazkholodtekhnika”, LLC “Gidroaerotsentr”, JSC “Gracis”, JSC “GMS Group”, LLC “DST-Ural”, LLC “Zavod Dorozhnykh Mashin”, LLC “NPF “Zavod Izmeron”, LLC “Kamelot Publishing”, JSC “Kovrovsky Avtomekhanichesky Zavod”, JSC “NPF “Mikran”, JSC “Korporatsia “MIT”, LLC MK “Kraneks”, LLC “NPK Neftegazdetal”, LLC “Neft-Servis”, JSC “Novaya Servisnaya Kompaniya”, LLC “Perfobur Servis”, JSC “Tomsky Elektromekhanichesky Zavod imeni V.V. Vakhrusheva”, LLC “NPO “Turbulentnost-Don”, JSC Tsentralnoe Konstruktorskoe Byuro Mashinostroeniya”, LLC “Celyabinsky Kompressorny Zavod”, LLC “Chetra”, LLC “Enviogroup”, LLC “Energomash-VTS”.