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Emerson automates Varandey oil export terminal in Russia

  • November 10, 2010
  • Emerson
  • Case Study

Summary

November 10, 2010 - The Varandey terminal handles export of commercial crude oil produced in the Timano-Pechora oil province of the Yamalo-Nenets autonomous district in the north of Russia's European Region. To increase exports to Western Europe and North America, LUKOIL expanded the terminal's onshore tank farm to a capacity of 325,000 cubic meters and added two 25-km underwater pipelines, as well as an ice-resistant fixed offshore terminal where the oil is loaded onto tanker ships. Throughput capacity of the new terminal is 12 million metric tons per year, and it’s able to operate at full capacity all year round, even under extreme weather conditions.The automation solution designed and supplied by Emerson is based on PlantWeb digital plant architecture. In this project Emerson supplied the control system, software, and vibration monitoring instrumentation, as well as system design and startup services. The integrated solution enables control of terminal operations at each stage of the process, from oil receipt at the tank farm to managing pumping through the underwater pipeline, and includes the systems for monitoring and detecting leaks in the pipeline. The architecture's openness also enables it to control other subsystems supplied by other companies. The architecture includes DeltaV digital automation system, AMS Suite software, Rosemount smart measurement instrumentation, and Fisher control valves and other control equipment. HART, Modbus and FOUNDATION fieldbus communication protocols enable the DeltaV system to combine more than 6000 signals from more than 700 measurement instruments, including temperature, pressure, and level transmitters; flowmeters; and vibration sensors. The system also manages final control elements such as control valves, as well as information from external control subsystems. The far-northern location of the terminal requires that the oil transfer system operate in extreme weather conditions – including air temperatures down to -44°С, storm winds, waves up to 5 meters high, and ice buildup that can reach 170 cm thick. "That is why the high reliability and broad functionality of Emerson's control system and field devices were crucial factors in LUKOIL's choice of a supplier," said Johan Vanderplaetse, Emerson Process Management's vice president for CIS and Turkey. "The PlantWeb architecture also enables terminal operators to detect errors and predict failures without having to go to a potentially unsafe area of the site. Diagnostic information from the measurement instrumentation and control valves helps ensure efficient processes and problem-free operation."It is of no small significance that the two companies also cooperated successfully on the Vysotsk oil export terminal near Leningrad. In addition, it is convenient when the customer has one supplier for both measurement instrumentation and control systems.Implementation of these modern automation technologies for the Varandey terminal helped LUKOIL improve environmental safety and working conditions and optimize workloads for operating personnel. The project also will allow LUKOIL to reduce operating costs, energy use, and process losses of material and equipment. About Emerson Process ManagementEmerson Process Management, an Emerson business, is a leader in helping businesses automate their production, processing and distribution in the oil and gas, refining, chemical, pulp and paper, power, water and wastewater treatment, mining and metals, food and beverage, life sciences, and other industries. The company combines superior products and technology with industry-specific engineering, consulting, project management and maintenance services. Its brands include PlantWeb, Fisher, Rosemount, Micro Motion, Daniel, DeltaV, Ovation, and AMS Suite. Learn More

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