Syzran Refinery, which is part of the oil refining unit of Rosneft, has put into operation a mobile ecological post for monitoring water and soil. The mobile laboratory has expanded the plant's environmental monitoring capacities.

Preservation of the environment for future generations is an integral part of the corporate culture and business operations of Rosneft. The Company aims to achieve leadership positions in ensuring the eco-friendliness of its production and minimizing the environmental impact.

The mobile laboratory is equipped with modern equipment, several devices are unique. Thus, the water quality analyser can simultaneously perform up to 7 measurements of various parameters in a few minutes. All devices are manufactured following the requirements of the Federal Agency for Technical Regulation and Metrology.

Operators of the mobile laboratory can assess the quality of natural, waste, block-circulating water on the spot, take soil samples following current regulations, and accurately determine the physicochemical properties of water and soil, such as pH value, electrical conductivity, the concentration of various compounds. It is also possible to take samples for further detailed analysis under stationary conditions. Collection, registration, processing, visualisation, and storage of the obtained data ensures the maintenance of a modern monitoring system. The laboratory reports are sent to the state regulatory and supervisory authorities. The equipment of the mobile station is included in the industrial environmental monitoring system of Rosneft.

Control over the environment state is carried out around the clock both at the industrial site and in the sanitary protection zone of the enterprise. The laboratory includes three stationary ecological posts for atmospheric air control and now two mobile laboratories: for air control and water and soil control. Their equipment allows not only to carry out planned research under the industrial environmental control program but also, if necessary, to make operational trips to different parts of the city. The environmental laboratory, which is part of the plant's environment-oriented structure, complies with the requirements of the international standard GOST ISO / IEC 17025-2019.

The Syzran Refinery is implementing a set of measures to reduce the technogenic impact on the environment. The enterprise is implementing a Rosneft investment program for the modernisation of production, including the introduction of low-waste and resource-saving technologies. Upgrading of existing and commissioning of new environmental facilities allow to minimize the intake of water from natural sources and maximise the use of recycled water in technological processes. At the end of 2020, the volume of recycled water use in production amounted to 94.6%. This was achieved thanks to the multistage wastewater treatment, including mechanical, physicochemical and biological treatment, as well as ultraviolet disinfection. To reduce the technogenic load on surface water bodies, the Vemko, physical and chemical wastewater treatment plant, as well as biological wastewater treatment facilities, are being reconstructed.

The refinery has been replenishing the water bioresources for more than a decade. In 2020 alone, about 110,000 fries of red-listed sterlet were released into the waters of the Volga River.

Among the projects implemented to improve pipeline reliability is a system for monitoring the tightness of pipelines. The technology ensures that the location of a potential leak is detected with a high degree of accuracy and a signal is given to stop moving petroleum products.

Employees of the Syzran Refinery are active participants in actions to clean up urban areas, as well as coastal areas of rivers, reservoirs, and springs. In 2020, the surface of the cleared area was about 26,000 m2. A programme has been developed and is being implemented to create an environmental awareness in the younger generation, which includes environmental festivals and open classes in general education institutions.

Rosneft
Information Division
April 15, 2021

Keywords: Environmental News 2021