VOLGOGRAD PETROLEUM REFINERY VOLGOGRAD, USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010003-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 17
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 18, 2008
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: June 1, 1971
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010003-8
Top Secret
Industrial Facilities
(Non-Military)
DIRECTORATE OF
INTELLIGENCE
Basic Imageiy Interpretation Report
Volgograd Petroleum Refinery
Volgograd, USSR
i 25X1
Top Secret
n~c 1/nnaa/71
25X1
DATE JUNE. 1971
COPY 1 -
PAGES 15
Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010003-8
 Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010003-8
Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010003-8
 Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010003-8
TOP SECRET RUFF
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Directorate of Intelligence
Imagery Analysis Service
Volgograd Petroleum Refinery
UTM COORDINATES
38UMU711728
GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES
48-29-29N 44-37-26E
MAP REFERENCE
2nd RTS. USATC, Series 200, Sheet M0235-21HL
5th ed, Feb 68, Scale 1:200,000
The major production components present at the Volgograd Petroleum
Refinery include four crude oil distillation units, two thermal cracking
units, two delayed coking units, and a probable catalytic reforming-
hydrotreating unit. The refinery also contains a lubricating oil plant
with deasphalting, dewaxing, solvent extraction, and clay treatment units.
Three or four new processing units were under construction in April 1970,
the date of latest good-quality photography used in this report.
This refinery has the capability of producing a wide variety of
lubricating oil products, straight-run, cracked, and blended gasoIines,
kerosene, diesel and fuel oils, coke, various gaseous hydrocarbons, and
possibly 'petrochemical feedstocks.
The refinery appeared operational on all photography studied, from
December 1959 to April 1971.
This report includes a detailed line drawing, a photograph of the
refinery, mensuration of storage tanks, and a discussion of construction
chronology and operational status of facilities.
-1-
TOP SECRET RUFF
RCS - 13/0044/71
25X1
Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010003-8
 I
Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010003-8
TOP SECRET -RUFF
25X1
25X1
z o,
a
-2-
TOP SECRET RUFF
Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010003-8
 Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010003-8
TOP SECRET RUFF
The Volgograd Petroleum Refinery is located 15 nautical miles (nm) south-
southwest of the center of Volgograd, in the lower Volga region of the USSR
(see Figure 1). It is one of 13 large Soviet refineries begun during the
late 1950s. Construction of this refinery reportedly began in 1955 and the
initial units came on stream in 1957. 1,2/
The majority of the crude oil processed at the refinery is reportedly
received by pipeline from the Volga-Ural Basin. A new pipeline is under
construction which will connect the refinery and the rapidly expanding
Mangyshlak oil field. 3,41 Crude oil and finished products could also
be shipped by railroad and water transport. The refinery contains numerous
rail car transshipment facilities, and it is served by a branch line from
the Volgograd-Kharkov rail line. A pipeline extends from the refinery 1 nm
northeast to a six-pier transshipment facility of the Volga River which is
used for transloading of barges and small tankers. The Volga-Donskoy Canal,
2.7 nm west of the refinery, connects the Volga and Don rivers.
Electric power for the refinery is produced at the Volgograd Heat and
Thermal Power Plant TETS 2 A new petrochemical plant is 25X1
under construction immediately southeast of the refinery. They are connected
by a pipe gallery. A petroleum products storage area, located 4.5 nm east-
southeast of the refinery, could provide additional product storage.
Physical Features
The Volgograd Refinery is comprised of two areas. The main area, covering
approximately 2,700 acres, contains all the processing units and some of
the storage and shipping facilities. The second area, covering approxi-
mately 370 acres, contains facilities for crude oil receiving and storage
and products shipping and storage (see Figures 2 and 3).
Operational Functions
The two. primary products of the Volgograd Refinery are fuels and
lubricating oils. Major identifiable refining units now complete and
in operation include four crude oil distillation units, two thermal
cracking units (each with a vapor recovery unit), two delayed coking units,
and a probable catalytic reforming-hydrotreating unit (CR-HT).
The lubricating oil processing facilities include five dewaxing units,
two deasphalting units, three solvent extraction units, and two clay treat-
ment units.
The refinery has the capacity to produce a wide variety of lubricating
oil products, straight-run, cracked, and blendedgasol ines, kerosene, diesel
and fuel oils, coke, gaseous hydrocarbons, and possibly petrochemical feedstocks.
TOP SECRET RUFF
Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010003-8
 Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010003-8
Q
Next 1 Page(s) In Document Denied
Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010003-8
 i
Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010003-8
TOP SECRET RUFF
Construction and Operational Status
The completed portions of the refinery were operational in December 1959,
the date of the earliest available photography. Units constructed since that
time are 'presumed to be operational upon their completion. The following
facilities were complete and operating in December 1959: the two small crude
oil distillation units and their associated desalting units; the two thermal
cracking and recovery units; the above ground tankage in Area B; the heat
and thermal power plant; most of the water treatment facilities in Areas N
(2) and I; some support facilities in Areas A, E, and L; and scattered tankage.
The lubricating oil facilities in Area H were in various stages of construction.
In April 1962 a third crude oil distillation unit had been added and the
lubricating oil units in Area H were completed. Also complete were the major
part of the blending, treating, storage, and shipping facilities in Area L;
the administration and support facilities in Areas A and J; the gas processing
unit in Area M (1); one dewaxing unit in Area M (2); the pipeline to the
Volga River; and three of the piers at the transshipment facility. Under
construction at this time were a delayed coking unit, one unidentified
secondary processing unit, one dewaxing unit, one dewaxing unit, tankage,
and reservoirs.
In September 1963, all previously reported construction and one additional
unidentified secondary processing unit were complete. The fourth crude oil
distillation unit in Area C was in the early stages of construction. Also
under construction were the probable CR-HT unit and the northern shipping
area in Area F.
By March 1968, all previously reported construction was complete. The
second delayed coking unit, a dewaxing unit in Area M (1) and the processing
units in Areas Q and R were also completed. The loading/unloading facilities
in Area T were under construction.
Photography of April 1969 showed a possible sulfuric acid plant in Area T
and additional tankage in Area B were under construction.
The possible sulfuric acid plant was complete in April 1970, the latest
good-quality photography used in this report. At that time there were 11 areas
under construction, three or possibly four of which will contain processing
units.
The small scale and poor quality of the latest coverage, dated April 1971,
precluded, further analysis of the facilities.
Facilities and Equipment
Table 1 lists the functional areas, facilities, and equipment within the
refinery. Measurements are given to the nearest half-meter.
-6-
TOP SECRET RUFF
Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010003-8
25X1
LJ/~ I
 Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010003-8
TOP SECRET RUFF
Table I. Equipment and Facilities at the Volgograd Petroleum Refinery
(Keyed to Figure 3)..
Area Functional Description
Equipment and Facilities
A
Support
Crude Oil and Products
3 Admin
8 Stora
I Suppo
4 Pump
istration buildings
ge buildings
rt. building
buildings
Storage 2 Contr
9 Suppo
ol houses
rt buildings
C Crude Oil Distillation
(I) Distillation
9 Miscellaneous buildings
2 Induced-draft cooling towers,
with 4 cells each
8-.Buried storage reservoirs
153 Cylindrical storage tanks
6 25-meter-diameter
II 21-meter-diameter
6
23
16 25X1
II 25X1
15 Buried cylindrical storage tanks
(not measured)
I Tank base U/C
2 Water basins
2 Units, each with
I atmospheric column
I vacuum column
2 stripper/redistillation columns
I bank of cooling coils/heat
exchangers/accumulators
2 pipe furnaces
I treatment building with covered
bank of settling tanks/accumulators
2 pump buildings
2 Desalting units with a single control
house, each with
2
horizontal desalting drums
I
bank of settling tanks
I
processing
building
2
horizontal
,long
storage tanks, 12 meters
2 Cylindrical storage tanks, 12 meters in
diameter
2 Support buildings
2 Units, each with
I atmospheric column
I vacuum column
I stripping column
2 redistillation columns
I processing column
2 banks cooling coils/
heat exchangers/
accumulators
2 pipe furnaces
I treatment building with covered
banks of settling tanks/accumulators
I possible treatment building
2 pump buildings
One of the units has 9 cylindrical
storage tanks and the other has 10
One of the units has a support building
and a compressor building
-7-
TOP SECRET RUFF
Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010003-8
 Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010003-8
TOP SECRET RUFF
25X1
25X1
Area Functional Description Equipment and Facilities
C (Cont) 2 Desalting. units, each with
3 spherical desalting drums
1 support building
One of the units has 2 horizontal
storage tanks, 12 meters long
3 Support buildings
D Thermal Cracking and 2 Units, each with
Vapor Recovery I bank of processing equipment
including I reactor column,
I fractionating column, and
I flash chamber
I bank cooling coils/heat
exchangers/accumulators
2 pipe furnaces
1 pump building
2 Vapor recovery units, each with
4 columns
1 bank cooling coils/heat exchangers/
accumulators
1 compressor building
1 horizontal storage tank, 12 meters
long
3 Cylindrical storage tanks, 5 meters
in diameter
E Administration and Support 4 Pump houses
8 Administration buildings
36 Support buildings
4 Cylindrical storage tanks (not
measured)
6 Horizontal storage tanks, 12 meters
long
F Crude Oil Receiving, 4 Pump buildings
Products Shipping, 36 Support buildings
and Storage 7 Loading racks
14 Semi-buried storage reservoirs
130 Cylindrical storage tanks
I 48-meters-diameter
14 36-meters-diameter
50 24-meters-diameter
6
20
12
I I 25X1
26 5-meters-diameter
2 Cylindrical storage tanks U/C
16 Semi-buried cylindrical storage tanks
7 Horizontal storage tanks, 27 meters
long
G Delayed Coking
(I) Delayed Coking I Unit with
3 coking drums
I bank cooling coils/heat
exchangers/accumulators
3 pipe furnaces
I shipping building
I pump building
I overhead crane
I cylindrical storage tank, 3 meters
in diameter
-8-
TOP. SECRET RUFF
Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010003-8
 Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010003-8
TOP SECRET RUFF
Area Functional Description Equipment and Facilities
I Probable fractionating unit with
4 fractionating columns
I bank cooling coils/heat
exchangers/accumulators
I pump building with a group
horizontal tanks on its roof
I possible control house
I support building
3 cylindrical storage tanks (not
measured)
I Pump building
I Storage/shipping building
3 Miscellaneous buildings
II Cylindrical storage tanks
5 12-meters-diameter
6
(2) Delayed Coking, I Delayed coking unit with
Blending,and Shipping 3 coking drums
I fractionating column
2 banks processing equipment
I bank cooling coils/heat
exchangers/accumulators
I pipe furnace
I possible processing building
2
pump buildings
I
shipping bui
lding
I
control hous
e
I
loading towe
r
I
overhead cra
ne
3 cylindrical storage tanks
(not measured)
I Blending, treating, packing and
shipping unit with
5 probable batch agitators/
blending tanks
I pipe furnace
I processing/blending building
with 6 probable batch agitators/
blending tanks
2 probable treatment buildings
I pump building
I shipping building
4 miscellaneous buildings
2 cylindrical storage tanks, 6 meters
in diameter
I Storage area with
I support building
14 cylindrical storage tanks
6 12-meters-diameter
4
25X1
4 6-meters-diameter
H Lubricating Oil Plant
(I) Deasphalting
2 Units, each with
I deasphalting column
I stripping column
I flash tower
I bank processing equipment
I bank cooling coils/heat
exchangers/accumulators
I pipe furnace
I pump building
4 cylindrical storage tanks
(not measured)
-9-
TOP SECRET RUFF
Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010003-8
 Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010003-8
TOP SECRET RUFF
Area Functional Description Equipment and Facilities
I Storage area with
I pump building
2 miscellaneous buildings
12 cylindrical storage tanks,
12 meters in diameter
6
6
17-matarc-rliamatar
3
(2) Dewaxing and
Solvent Recovery I Dewaxing unit with
I solvent regeneration section
with 3 columns
6 settling tanks/intermediate
storage tanks
I bank cooling coils/heat
exchangers/accumulators
I chiller building with 4
crystallizer drums and
attached bank of process-
ing equipment
I filter building with overhead
crane
I gasholder (not measured)
I Dewaxing unit with
I solvent regeneration section
with 3 columns
I bank cooling coils/heat
exchangers/accumulators
I chiller building with attached
bank of processing equipment
I fil.ter.building with overhead
crane
2 processing buildings
I gasholder (not measured)
I Solvent recovery unit with
I bank processing equipment
including at least 2 columns
I pipe furnace
I pump building
2 cylindrical storage tanks (not
measured)
I Storage area with
7 support buildings
19 cylindrical storage tanks
25X1
LJ/~ I
(3) Solvent Extraction 3 Units, each with
2 flash towers
2 stripping columns
I treating tower
I bank of processing equipment
2 banks of cooling coils/heat
exchangers/accumulators,
3 pipe furnaces
I pump building
2 cylindrical solvent storage tanks
(not measured)
2 units with 2 horizontal probable
solvent storage tanks (not measured)
3 cylindrical storage tanks,
12 meters in diameter ( 1 unit
has 4)
Two of the units have 1 control
house each
1 Possible treating building with 2 tanks
-10-
TOP SECRET RUFF
Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010003-8
 Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010003-8
TOP SECRET RUFF
Area Functional Description
H (Cont) (4) Clay Treatment and
Products Storage
Equipment and Facilities
I Clay treatment unit with
6 possible treating towers
9.possible batch agitators
3 pipe furnaces
I filter building with 2 probable
clay treating towers
I clay receiving building
5 cylindrical tanks (not measured)
I Clay treatment unit with
2 clay treating. towers
I group possible treating towers
12 possible batch agitators
3 pipe furnaces
I filter building
I clay receiving building
2 cylindrical tanks (not measured)
36 Cylindrical storage tanks
34 12-meters-diameter
2 9-meters-diameter
I Water Cooling and Treatment
J Waste Gas Disposal
K Probable Catalytic
Reforming-Hydrotreating
3 Water treatment/pump buildings (2 with
16 water treatment basins)
6 Support buildings
5 Induced-draft cooling towers with
8 cells each
28 Induced-draft cooling towers with
5 cells each
I Possible water treatment tank
7 Water treatment basins
2 Compressor buildings
I Control house
2 Support buildings
4 Horizontal tanks
I I5-matarc-lnnn
3
I Gasholder, 24 meters in diameter
2 Flare towers
I Probable catalytic reforming section
with
4 reactors
3 columns
I bank processing equipment
2 banks cooling coils/heat
exchangers/accumulators
I- pipe furnace
I possible preheater/precipitator
I pump building
I Probable hydrotreating section with
3 columns
I bank processing equipment
2 pipe furnaces
I possible preheater/precipitator
I pump building
2 cylindrical storage tanks
I Pump building
4 Cylindrical storage tanks, 12 meters
in diameter
L Products Shipping and Storage 2 Possible processing/packaging
buildings
5 Pump buildings
5 Shipping buildings
10 Storage buildings
9 Support buildings
I Loading rack
-11-
TOP SECRET RUFF
Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010003-8
 Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010003-8
TOP SECRET RUFF
25X1
LDAI
Area Functional Description Equipment and Facilities
104 Cylindrical
4
25X1
21 1
2-meters-diamete
r
4
25X1
19 9
-meters-diameter
32
25X1
24 6
-meters-diameter
18 Cylindrical storage tanks U/C
16 Buried cylindrical storage tanks
(not measured)
I Group semi-buried cylindrical
storage tanks
34 Horizontal storage tanks
M Gas Processing and
Dewaxing
(I) Gas Processing
(2) Dewaxing
2 18-meters-long
II 15-meters-long
8 12-meters-long
I Unit with
3 possible gas fractionators
I bank processing equipment
I compressor building
I gasholder, 18 meters in
diameter
2 Support buildings
4 21-meters-long
3 Units, each with
2 solvent regeneration sections
with 4 columns each
2 chiller buildings, each with
4 crystallizer drums and
attached bank of processing
equipment
I filter building with 4 hoppers
and 2 overhead cranes
I pump/processing building
I control house
2 horizontal storage tanks,
15 meters long
I gasholder, 9 meters in diameter
Two of the units have 6 cylindrical
storage tanks, 9 meters in diameter
I U/I secondary processing unit with
6 columns
2 banks of processing equipment
6 pipe furnaces
2 processing buildings with
attached bank of accumulators/
settling tanks
3 pump buildings
I overhead crane
10 cylindrical storage tanks,
9 meters in diameter
5 horizontal storage tanks
8
16 Cylindrical storaae tanks
2 Support buildings
-12-
TOP SECRET RUFF
Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010003-8
25X1
 -13-
TOP SECRET RUFF
Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010003-8
TOP SECRET RUFF
Area Functional Description Equipment and Facilities
N Water Treatment 4 Pumphouses
I Control house
5 Support buildings
15 Cylindrical storage tanks
6 12-meters-diameter
4 9-meters-diameter
5 6-meters-diameter
22 Water basins
4 Possible water basins U/C
0 Gas and Unidentified
Secondary Processing I Gas processing unit with
2 columns
I bank processing equipment
I compressor building
6 cylindrical storage tanks
2 18-meters-diameter
4 12-meters-diameter
I gasholder, 18 meters in diameter
I U/I secondary processing unit with
4 columns
I bank processing equipment
I bank accumulators/settling tanks
I pipe furnace
2 compressor buildings
I control house
I support building
8 cylindrical storage tanks,
12 meters in diameter
I Support building
I Flare tower
P Water Cooling I Water treatment building/pumphouse
with connected water treatment basins
I Pump house
3 Induced-draft water cooling towers
with 5 cells each
I Cylindrical storage tank, 12 meters in
diameter
I Cylindrical storage tank U/C
2 Water basins
Q Unidentifed Secondary I Unit with
Processing 2 possible processing buildings
2 compressor buildings
2 storage buildings
10 cylindrical storage tanks,
6 meters in diameter
2 horizontal storage tanks,
12 meters long
I Unit with
3 possible processing buildings
2 pumphouses
I support building
12 cylindrical storage tanks,
6 meters in diameter
3 horizontal storage tanks
I 15-meters-long
2 12-meters-long
I Loading rack
25X1
LDAI
Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010003-8
 Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010003-8
TOP SECRET RUFF
Area Functional Description Equipment and Facilities
R Unidentified Secondary 2 Units, each with
Processing I bank processing equipment
I processing building
6 cylindrical storage/treating tanks
I Unit with
4 columns
I bank processing equipment
I bank cooling coils/heat
exchangers/accumulators
2 pipe furnaces
I probable processing building
I pumphouse with attached bank
of accumulators/settling tanks
I pumphouse
I control house
I cylindrical storage tank
(not measured)
I Unit with
2 fractionating columns
I bank cooling coils/heat
exchangers/accumulators
I pipe furnace
I pump building
I Probable processing building
15 Cylindrical storage tanks,
9 meters in diameter
I Substation with
I transformer
I position for a second transformer
I control house
S Administration and Support I Administration building
5 Support buildings
I Square tower
3 Storage buildings
T Possible Sufuric Acid Plant Shown on Figure 3 but no detailed listing
of equipment given.
-14-
TOP SECRET RUFF
Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010003-8
 Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010003-8
TOP SECRET RUFF
Map
2nd RTS. US Air Target Chart, Series 200, Sheet -
February 1968, Scale 1:200,000 (SECRE
25X1
25X1
Plant Summary, September 1962 25X1
2 ~ Intelligence Information Report)
4 Octobe
(SECRET)
3. International Petroleum Encyclopedia, pp. 94-95, 1969 edition, The
Petroleum Publishing Co., Tulsa, Oklahoma (UNCLASSIFED)
4. CIA. CRSI I"Review of Sino-Soviet Oil," Vol. V,
No. 3, June 1969 (UNCLASSIFIED)
Requirement
COMIREX N02
Support Number 429224
-15-
TOP SECRET RUFF L
Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010003-8
 Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010003-8
Top Secret
Top Secret
Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010003-8