LAN-CHOU PETROLEUM REFINERY LAN-CHOU, CHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010025-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 15
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 18, 2008
• Sequence Number: 25
• Publication Date: June 1, 1969
• Content Type: REPORT

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Top Secret
DIRECTORATE OF
INTELLIGENCE
Industrial Facilities
(Non-Military)
Basic Imageiy Interpretation Report
Lan-chou Petroleum Refinery
Lan-chou, China
DATE
COPY
PAGES
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Directorate of Intelligence
Imagery Analysis Service
Lan-chou Petroleum Refinery
48SUQ7809781 .36-06-58N 103-38-16E
15th RTS. US Air Target Chart 200, Sheet 0.38.3-22HL, 2nd edition, May 64,
Scale 1:200,000
This report presents a detailed imagery-derived analysis of the Lan-chou
Petroleum Refinery from September 1959 through August 1968.
The Lan-chou Petroleum Refinery was built with Soviet aid and became
operational before the Soviet withdrawal in 1960. Since that time a lubri-
cating oil plant, several unidentified processing units, and many additional
storage facilities have been constructed. This refinery produces straight-
run, cracked and blended gasolines, kerosene, diesel and fuel oils, lubri-
cating oil, wax, asphaltic materials, and coke.
Included in this report are a detailed line drawing and a photograph of
the refinery, mensuration of storage facilities, a discussion of physical
features and operational functions, a construction chronology, and reference
data.
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The Lan-chou Petroleum Refinery is located 9.5 nautical miles (nm)
west-northwest of the center of Lan-chou on the south bank of the Huang Ho
(Yellow River), in Kansu Province. The Lan-chou Chemical Fertilizer Plant
is located to the west of the refinery and the Lan-chou
Petrochemical the northwest. The Lan-chou Thermal Power Plant
(Hsi-ku) is located to the northwest and is connected to
the refinery by steam lines. The refinery is served by a spur from the
Lan-chou to Hsiang-tang-chou rail line. Although the. refinery is located
on a river, shipments by water are probably very limited because there are
no transfer facilities near the river and there is no well-defined river
channel.
The construction of the refinery.began in April of 1956 with Soviet
aid. Construction of the primary refining units was originally expected to
be completed in 1961. However, at least limited production ha.d begun by
1959. The major sources of crude oil are the Tsa.idam., Chiu-chuan, and
North Shensi Basins.l/
Physical Features
The Lan-chou Petroleum Refinery, which is secured-by a wall, measures
approximately 8,800 by 3,700 feet and occupies about 750 acres.
Operational Functions
This refinery contains a large number of diverse processing units.
It produces straight-run, cracked and blended gasolines, kerosene, diesel
and fuel oils, lubricating oil, wax, asphaltic materials, and coke.
Status and Activity
September 1959 -- Most of the processing equipment including the
catalytic and thermal cracking units, the three crude distillation units,
and the light ends unit appeared to be complete and operational. The
delayed coking unit was in the mid-stages of construction, the lubricating
oil plant was in the early stages of construction, and tankage representing
approximately 50 'percent of the current crude and finished products storage
capacity was in place.
June 1962 -- The delayed coking unit had been completed and construc-
tion was continuing at the lubricating oil plant and in the storage area.
Construction was begun on an unidentified processing facility (Area A), and
additions were made to the packing and shipping areas.
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September 1963 -- Most activity was centered in the possible steam
plant, the unidentified processing facilities, and the administration and
support areas (Areas A thru D) where construction was continuing. Additions
were also made in the storage area and the lubricating oil plant.
October 1964 -- The possible steam plant (Area B) appeared complete
and was connected by steam line to the completed unidentified processing
facility (Area A) and to the main processing areas of the refinery. The
lubricating oil plant appeared operational and an additional fractionating
column and pipe furnace were added to one of the crude distillation units
(Area L).
March 1966-August 1968 -- Only minor changes were made to the facili-
ties during this time period. However, the small scale and poor quality of
the coverage impeded a detailed analysis of the refinery.
On coverage of September 1959 the refinery was in operation as evi-
denced by heavy rail traffic at the shipping facilities and smoke from the
multistage distillation unit (Area L). On all subsequent coverage there
were several indicators of production activity at the refinery. The
lubricating oil plant which was under construction in September 1959, was
in operation when observed on coverage of October 1964. The delayed coking
unit was operational when observed on coverage of June 1962.
Facilities and Equipment
The following table lists the functional areas and facilities within
the refinery.
FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT AT THE LAN-CHOU PETROLEUM REFINERY
(ITEMS KEYED TO FIGURE 3)
Area Description Equipment*
A Unidentified Processing 4 U/I processing buildings
I U/I processing equipment unit
I pipe furnace
19 Storage/support buildings
34 Cylindrical storage tanks
2 diam. 25 ft.
24 diam. 20 ft.
8 diam. 15 ft.
II Horizontal storage tanks
6 length 30 ft.
5 length 25 ft.
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Area Description
Equipment*
B Possible Steam Plant and I Possible steam plant
U/I Processing I U/I processing equipment unit
I Processing building
3 Storage/support buildings
2 Cylindrical storage tanks
diam. 25 ft.
C Administration and Support
D Unidentified Processing
E Crude Oil and Products
Storage
2 Administration buildings
20 Storage/support buildings
8 U/I processing buildings
21 Storage/support buildings
23 Miscellaneous buildings
18 Horizontal tanks
6 length 40 ft.
12 length 35 ft.
8 Semiburied storage tanks
I
5
2
diam.
diam.
diam.
160 f
125 f
60 ft
t.
t.
.
388 Cylindrical
sto
rage
tanks
16
diam.
80
ft
.
6
diam.
60
ft
.
3
diam.
55
ft
.
29
diam.
50
ft
.
8
diam.
45
ft
.
52
diam.
40
ft
.
10
diam.
35
ft
.
32
diam.
30
ft
.
171
diam.
25
ft
.
52
diam.
20
ft
.
9
diam.
15
ft
.
G Unidentified Processing I Row of at least 7 columns
I Row of at least 4 columns
At least 3 U/I processing equipment
units
At least 3 possible pipe furnaces
I Compressor building
I Possible compressor building
I Control building
At least 23 support buildings
2 Cylindrical storage tanks
diam. 20 ft.
4 Possible cylindrical storage tanks,
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Area Description
Equipment*
H Light Ends 2 Column groupings (3 columns each)
I Compressor building
4 Processing buildings
2 Cylindrical storage tanks
diam. 15 ft.
I Moving Bed Catalytic One area of processing equipment
Cracking including reactor, regenerating
kiln, catalyst hopper, and
fractionator
I Pipe furnace
7 Miscellaneous buildings
J Thermal Cracking I Row of 7 columns
2 Pipe furnaces
2 Compressor buildings
I Support building
K Support
8 Support buildings
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L Crude Distillation I Multistage crude distillation unit
with
8 Columns
I Bank heat exchangers/accumulators
3 Pipe furnaces
I Building with 7 desalting drums
I Compressor building
I Storage/support building
M Crude Distillation
N Possible Treating
0 Probable Dewaxing
2 Distillation units each with
I Line of columns
2 Banks of heat exchangers/accumulators
2 Pipe furnaces
I Compressor building
2 Processing tanks
diam. 10 ft.
2 Processing buildings
10 Processing tanks
diam. 10 ft.
14 Cylindrical storage tanks
8 diam. 20 ft.
6 diam. 10 ft.
2 Probable dewaxing units each with
I Chilling and filter building
with 6 attached treatment towers
2 U/I processing units each with
I Processing building
U/I processing equipment
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Area Description
P Unidentified Processing I Distillation unit with
I Fractionating column
I Pipe furnace
I Compressor building
4 Cylindrical storage tanks
diam. 25 ft.
3 Miscellaneous buildings
2 U/I processing units each with
I Compressor/processing building
Undetermined number of small
processing tanks
4 Miscellaneous buildings
(I) Deasphalting Section 2 Banks processing equipment
I Pipe furnace
I Compressor building
5 Miscellaneous buildings
34 Cylindrical storage tanks
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Water and Products Storage 3 Cylindrical storage tanks
di.am. 25 ft.
3 Water storage basins
3 Horizontal storage tanks
length 30 ft.
I Support building
R Products Storage Area
Equipment*
2 Storage/support buildings
6 Cylindrical storage tanks
I diam. 80 ft.
5 diam. 25 ft.
36 Horizontal storage tanks
3 length 90 ft.
8 length 50 ft.
14 length 40 ft.
II length 30 ft.
S Distillation 2 Fractionating columns
I Pipe furnace
I Bank of heat exchangers/accumulators
I Building with 4 probable desalting
drums
5 Support buildings
T Unidentified I Building with row of attached
columns (number not determined)
18 Miscellaneous buildings
U Lubricating Oil Plant
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Area Description
Equipment*
9 diam. 40 ft.
2 diam. 25 ft.
4 diam. 20 ft.
19 diam. 15 ft.
I Cluster processing equipment
I Pipe furnace
4 Miscellaneous buildings
22 Cylindrical storage tanks
7 diam. 25 ft.
15 diam. 15 ft.
(3) Dewaxing Section I Chiller and filter building
2 Storage buildings
9 Cylindrical storage tanks
diam. 20 ft.
(4) Clay Treatment Section
V Delayed Coking
I Bank of processing equipment
I Pipe furnace
Undetermined number of processing
drums/horizontal tanks
4 Miscellaneous buildings
29 Cylindrical storage tanks
2 diam. 25 ft.
27 diam. 15 ft.
I Bank of coking drums
I Fractionator
I Bank of possible extractors
I Pipe furnace
I Compressor building
I Shipping building with conveyor
16 Miscellaneous buildings
I Cylindrical storage tank
diam. 25 ft.
W Water Treatment 3 Induced draft cooling towers
I Possible cooling tower
7 Storage/support buildings
6 Water treatment basins
I Pumphouse
X Support
13 Support buildings
Y Treatment, Blending, Packaging building with 10 batch
Packing, Storage and agitators/holding tanks
Shipping 3 Banks processing equipment
I Pipe furnace
28 Storage/support buildings
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Area Description
Equipment*
3 Cylindrical storage tanks
I diam. 60 ft.
2 diam. 15 ft.
Z Shipping and Storage 3 Loading racks serving 2 tracks each
(not shown on graphic)
6 Control/support houses
I Pumphouse
13 Storage/support buildings
4 Semiburied cylindrical storage tanks
*NOTE: All tank dimensions are approximate.
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 AREA
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
1
K
L
M
N
DESCRIPTION
U/I PROCESSING
POSSIBLE STEAM PLANT and U/I PROCESSING
ADMINISTRATION and SUPPORT
U/IPROCESSING
CRUDE OIL and PRODUCTS STORAGE
WATER BASIN
U/I PROCESSING
LIGHT ENDS
MOVING BED CATALYTIC CRACKING
THERMAL CRACKING
SUPPORT
CRUDE DISTILLATION
CRUDE DISTILLATION
POSSIBLE TREATING
PROBABLE DEWAXING
KEY TO ANNOTATIONS
P U/I PROCESSING
Q WATER AND PRODUCTS STORAGE
R PRODUCTS STORAGE AREA
S DISTILLATION
T. UNIDENTIFIED
U LUBRICATING OIL PLANT
I. DEASPHALTING SECTION
2. SOLVENT REMOVAL SECTION
3. DEWAXING SECTION
4. CLAY TREATMENT SECTION
DELAYED COKING
WATER TREATMENT
X SUPPORT
Y TREATMENT,BLENDING, PACKING, STORAGE AND SHIPPING
Z SHIPPING AND STORAGE
DESCRIPTION
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NOTE: THIS DRAWING HAS BEEN MADE FROM UNRECTIFIED PHOTOGRAPHY.
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LEGEND
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~? PROCESSING EQUIPMENT
J BUILDING
IU1J HEAT EXCHANGERS
0 TANK
-W- WALL
COOLING TOWER
SEMI-BURIED STORAGE TANKS
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iur ALKt I KW
Map .
15th RTS. US Air Target Chart 200, Sheet 0383-22HL, 2nd edition, May 64,
Scale 1:200,000 (SECRET/CONTROLLED DISSEM)
Document
1. DOD.
Requirement
Lan Chou Refinery, January 1968 (CONFIDENTIAL)
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Top Secret
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