New stage of commissioning at the Amur Gas Processing Plant begins after TPP commissioning
As already , an important stage in construction of the Amur Gas Processing Plant was completed on April 20: Svobodnenskaya TPP was put into operation. Its main objective is to provide the plant with steam and electricity.
Throughout the entire process chain, steam acts as a heat carrier in heat exchangers and is needed both for preheating the feed gas and for heating the bottoms of the gas separation columns.
When implementing a large process, there should be no last minute rushes: everything shall be done on time and efficiently because the deadlines for completion of each stage are coordinated and interrelated. Which is why, with TPP commissioning, a new stage of commissioning works began at the first process lines of Amur GPP. What it is is worth telling in more detail.
At year's end of 2020, the gas processing plant received gas from Power of Siberia main gas pipeline and transferred it as transit to Svobodnenskaya TPP. Then, the fuel gas units were launched which the boiler room of the plant was transferred to, and the professionals began commissioning on the main process units.
By April, a large set of commissioning has completed: heater was launched at the gas dehydration and treatment unit, lining was prepared, burners were set up, additional leak tests and functional tests were completed on the equipment. Commissioning is also underway at the nitrogen and air station, at the ethane and natural gas liquids unit, at the nitrogen and helium mix unit. Steam and condensate pipelines have been set up.
Commissioning works were carried out in full at the fire pump station, at the utility facilities located directly at the units. Individual tests of the automation systems, loop tests, functional tests, and piping works were carried out. Final stage of commissioning in idle mode includes checking for leaks and drying of the pipelines. Individual tests of the dynamic equipment of the pumping stations were carried out.
Commissioning process for such a large-scale project is very complex from the point of view of organization of the works. According to the schedule, about a thousand people who are directly involved in commissioning are scheduled to participate in the launch of the first process line. All of them have to be organized to ensure that the work is done on schedule. A special scheme has been developed for well-coordinated interaction where the coordinating work is carried out by the owner of the project Gazprom Pererabotka Blagoveshchensk and the general contractor JSC NIPIGAS. The work is carried out taking into account all anti-epidemic restrictions.
Commissioning works involve dedicated specialists who already have experience in starting up production facilities, including small factories. They come from different regions, from all over the country, including the specialists from the Amur region.
For example, Alexey Zakomorin, a locksmith in charge of repair of process units of category 5, is from Fevralsk. Before he got to the Amur Gas Processing Plant, he worked on an oil production platform on Sakhalin. He has been working at the plant since September 2020 after he submitted his CV and passed the interview.
Alexey Zakomorin during the commissioning works.
«I work on unique equipment which I did not face in my previous workplaces. In our work, we monitor the flanged connections, so that there are no leaks in the areas where commissioning has already been carried out. In addition, we carry out maintenance of process units and shut-off and control valves. Commissioning is not yet finished, and the equipment is gradually being prepared for operation. Here, I constantly discover something new for myself, exchange experience with my colleagues. By the way, several people from Svobodny work together with me: both operators and locksmiths,» says Alexey.
Mikhail Kislitsyn, a young professionals operator of process units of category 3, is just an example of the owner and the general contractor of construction have timely taken care of training the personnel for a new large-scale production site from among local residents. Mikhail was born in Svobodny, graduated from the Amur Technical College majoring in Process Unit Operator field, then served in the army. Back in his hometown, he decided to submit his CV to the company. He passed the interview and has been working at the Amur Gas Processing Plant for six months now. Here's what he said himself:
Mikhail Kislitsyn at the site during commissioning.
«When I was in the army, I wanted to get here, and I did it. The college gave me the initial knowledge, and we went for internship in Orenburg where I gained my experience. Here, I continue to study because the plant is large and high-tech. Operator of my category monitors the pressure gauges, looks at pressure indicators, and makes sure that there are no leaks. If we find any defects, we immediately eliminate them. We also take part in sampling together with the laboratory staff. In general, I like working here.»
This is how-thanks to the joint work of many specialists-starting from a young operator to an experienced manager, the overall result of work at each stage is achieved, and the reliability of the equipment at each site is ensured. By the end of April, the gas processing plant was ready to accept feed gas and start the hot commissioning at the process units. Now, the units are provided with all utilities like electricity, steam, nitrogen, and air. At the same time, commissioning is carried out at the units of the first process line.
Nowadays, the main goal for the first start-up complex is to deliver commercial gas with a nitrogen content of less than two percent to Power of Siberia main gas pipeline and reach the design load with a capacity of at least 21 million cubic meters of commercial gas per day. In total, the Amur Gas Processing Plant will process 42 billion cubic meters of gas and will become one of the largest enterprises in the industry in the world.
Source: Zeyskie Ogni newspaper