SA-ERH-TU PETROLEUM REFINERY AND STORAGE SA-ERH-TU, CHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010033-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 18, 2008
• Sequence Number: 33
• Publication Date: December 1, 1971
• Content Type: REPORT

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Top Secret
DIRECTORATE OF
INTELLIGENCE
Industrial Facilities
(Non-Military)
Basic Imageiy Interpretation Report
Sa-erh-tu Petroleum Refinery and Storage
Sa-erh-tu, China
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Top Secret
RCS 1 /n n1 r, /7Z
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DATE DECEMBER 1971
COPY
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Directorate of Intelligence
Imagery Analysis Service
Sa-erh-tu Petroleum Refinery and Storage
UTM COORDINATES GFOGRAPHIC COORDINATES
51TXM614532 46-31-30N 125-06-OOE
MAP REFERENCE
2nd RTS. USATC, Series 200, Sheet M0283-7HL 2nd ed. Apr 68, Scale 1:200,000
(SECRET
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The Sa-erh-tu Petroleum Refinery was built to process crude oil produced at
the adjacent Sa-erh-tu Oilfield. The major completed refinery units are two
crude oil distillation units, catalytic and thermal cracking units, a delayed
coking unit, a gas fractionation unit, one or more blending/treating units, and
a probable catalytic reforming unit. Additional processing units are under
construction. Based on the identification of the completed refinery units, the
products include straight-run, cracked, blended, and probably reformed gasolines
in a wide range of octane ratings, kerosene, diesel and fuel oils, petroleum
coke, and gaseous hydrocarbons.
In November 1961, when the refinery area was first seen on photography,
only a few support buildings were present. By November 1964, one crude oil
distillation unit and several secondary processing units were completed and
the refinery was seen in operation for the first time. Construction continued
at a fairly rapid rate until September 1967, then progressed little through
December 1969. By December 1970 new construction was again observed. On the
latest coverage in June 1971, two processing units were under construction.
The refinery has been seen operating on all coverage from November 1964
to June 1971.
This report includes a location map, a photograph of the refinery, a
line drawing, a detailed listing of completed buildings and processing equip-
ment, dimensions of storage tanks, and a discussion of the status of the
facilities.
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Sa-erh-tu Petroleum Refinery and Storage is located in the southeastern
section of Heilungkiang Province, approximately 5 nautical miles (nm) southeast
of the town of Sa-erh-tu (see Figure 1).
The refinery is charged with crude oil brought by pipeline from the adjacent
Sa-erh-tu Oilfield. Rail service to the refinery is provided by a spur from
the main line between Harbin and Chi-chi-ha-erh. Steam and electricity for the
refinery are nrnduced at the collocated Sa-erh-tu Heat and Thermal Power Plant
The refinery measures approximately 5,600 by 4,400 feet and occupies about
560 acres (see Figures 2 and 3). The refining and storage areas are secured
by a wall. The heat and thermal power plant and some of the support facilities
are not secured.
Operational Functions
The units presently completed at the refinery include two crude oil distillation
units, a catalytic cracking unit, a thermal cracking unit, a delayed coking unit,
a gas fractionation unit, one and possibly two blending/treating units, a probable
catalytic reforming unit, two possible desalting units, and several unidentified
processing units.
Based on the identification of the completed units, the refinery products
include straight-run, cracked, blended and probably reformed gasolines in a wide
range of octane ratings, kerosene, diesel.and fuel oils, petroleum coke, and
gaseous hydrocarbons.
A chemical processing unit nearing completion in Area X is different in
design from any other chemical processing unit seen in China. It consists of
two processing columns, a lattice-type tower (possibly a waste gas tower), cooling
towers, and a conveyor system leading to a shipping building. The unit will probably
use refinery waste gas as feedstock. The finished product will probably be in
solid form.
Four unidentified secondary processing units (Area G) are also different in
design from any other units seen at a Chinese refinery. The four units are connected
by pipeline to a centralized processing building. Since oil from the Sa-erh-tu
Oilfield has a high wax content, it is possible that at least part of this facility
is involved in processing or removing wax from the crude oil.
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Construction and Operational Status
When the refinery area was first observed, on photography of November 1961,
only a few support buildings had been built. By September 1962, one of the crude
oil distillation units was in the early-to-mid stages of construction, the steam
plant and water cooling facilities (Area H) were under construction, and several
storage tanks had been completed. In December 1962, the crude oil distillation
unit was in the midstages of construction, site preparation for the thermal
cracking unit was observed, and the possible blending/treating unit was in the
early stages of construction.
On photography of November 1964 the refinery was observed in operation.
One crude oil distillation unit, the thermal cracking unit, the delayed coking
unit, the possible blending/treating unit, the steam plant, and the thermal
power plant were all in operation. Most of the present storage tanks were
complete. A second crude oil distillation unit and the catalytic cracking
unit were in the early-to-mid stages of construction. The probable catalytic
reforming unit and the unidentified secondary processing units in Areas M, N,
and T were in the midstages of construction. One possible desalting unit
appeared to be complete and another was in the midstages of construction.
By November 1965, the second possible desalting unit, the second crude
oil distillation unit, the catalytic cracking unit, the probable catalytic
reforming unit, and the unidentified secondary processing units in Areas M,
N, and T were complete. The large building associated with the unidentified
secondary processing units in Area G was complete, but the processing units
had not been started. Site preparation for the blending/treating unit was
observed.
By March 1966 two of the processing units in Area G were in the early
stages of construction. Site preparation was seen for the chemical processing
unit in Area X. In September 1967, all four of the processing units in Area G
and the blending/treating unit were complete. The chemical processing unit in
Area X was in the early-to-mid stages of construction.
Little construction was observed between September 1967 and December 1969.
By December 1970, a gas fractionation unit had been added. Construction was in
the early stages on the processing unit in Area W. Little progress was noted on
the chemical processing unit in Area X.
In June 1971, the processing unit in Area W was in the early-to-mid stages
of construction and the chemical processing unit in Area X was nearing completion.
The refinery was seen operating on all coverage from November 1964 through
June 1971.
Facilities and Equipment
Table 1 lists the functional areas and equipment within the refinery. In
areas which are still under construction and whose function is undetermined, the
buildings and processing equipment are not included in the table or shown in
Figure 3. All measurements are rounded to the nearest 5 feet.
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Table 1. Equipment and Facilities at Sa-erh-tu Petroleum Refinery
(Keyed to Figure 3)
Area Functional Description Equipment and Facilities
A Storage and Shipping 1 Loading rack
23 Storage buildings
18 Cylindrical storage tanks
10 55-foot-diameter
8 35-foot-diameter
13 Tanks under construction
3 Semiburied tanks (not
measured)
B Support, Storage, and Shipping 3 Loading racks
90 Miscellaneous buildings
C Storage 11 Storage/support buildings
91 Cylindrical storage tanks
2 120-foot-diameter
3 95-foot-diameter
26 80-foot-diameter
6 55-foot-diameter
12 35-foot-diameter
38 30-foot-diameter
4 20-foot-diameter
7 Tanks under construction
1 Water storage/treatment
basin
D Blending/Treating and Shipping 1 Blending/treating unit with
66 blending/treating tanks
3 processing buildings
1 large shipping building
22 Miscellaneous buildings
E Support 38 Support buildings (two are
under construction)
F Possible Desalting 2 Units, each with
1 cluster of processing
equipment
1 processing building
5 Support buildings
Unidentified Secondary 1 Unit with
Processing 4 columns
1 cluster of processing
equipment
1 bank of heat exchangers/
cooling coils/accumulators
2 furnaces
4 cylindrical storage tanks,
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1 Unit with
4 columns
3 clusters of processing
equipment
1 furnace
2 processing buildings
3 cylindrical
tanks, 7
diameter
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Area Functional Description Equipment and Facilities
Water Cooling
Storage and Shipping
Storage
1 Unit with
3 columns
2 banks of heat exchangers/
cooling coils/accumulators
3 furnaces
3 processing buildings
6 cylindrical processing tanks
7 horizontal processing tanks
1 Unit with
3 columns
4 banks of heat exchangers/
cooling coils/accumulators
3 furnaces
1 Processing building serving
all four units
7 Miscellaneous buildings
7 Cylindrical storage tanks
1 80-foot-diameter
6 30-foot-diameter
2 Spherical storage tanks,
30 feet in diameter
10 Cooling towers
17 Miscellaneous buildings
4 Cylindrical storage tanks
2 30-foot-diameter
2 15-foot-diameter
2 Water storage/treatment basins
1 Loading rack
9 Miscellaneous buildings
(one with 4 horizontal tanks)
7 Cylindrical storage tanks
2 25-foot-diameter
5 20-foot-diameter
5 Support buildings
37 Cylindrical storage tanks
6 60-foot-diameter
12 55-foot-diameter
5 50-foot-diameter
6 40-foot-diameter
4 35-foot-diameter
4 30-foot-diameter
2 Tanks under construction
K Support
4 Support buildings
Probable Catalytic Reforming 1 Unit with
9 columns
5 clusters of processing
equipment (one probably
contains reactors)
7 small furnaces
1 processing building
1 large pump/compressor
building
10 processing/storage tanks
3 support buildings
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Area Functional Description Equipment and Facilities
Unidentified Secondary 1 Unit with
Processing 1 cluster of processing
equipment
2 processing buildings
4 processing/storage tanks
6 Miscellaneous buildings
12 Horizontal storage tanks,
25 feet long
Unidentified Secondary 1 Unit with
Processing 2 columns
1 cluster of processing
equipment
1 bank of heat exchangers/
cooling coils/accumulators
1 furnace
3 processing buildings (one
with 5 horizontal tanks)
2 cylindrical storage tanks,
20 feet in diameter
1 Support building
Coking
1 Delayed coking unit with
4 coking drums
1 fractionating column
4 other columns (three are
for vapor recovery)
1 bank of heat exchangers/
cooling coils/accumulators
3 furnaces
1 pump building
6 buildings connected by
conveyor
3 support/control buildings
4 processing/storage tanks
1 Loading rack
5 Support buildings
4 Cylindrical storage tanks,
55 feet in diameter
P Thermal Cracking 1 Unit with
1 cracking section containing
8 columns (includes a
fractionator, a flash
tower, and a reactor)
3 banks of heat
exchangers/cooling
coils/accumulators
2 furnaces
1 pump building
1 vapor recovery section
containing
3 columns
1 bank of heat
exchangers/cooling
coils/accumulators
2 processing buildings
1 compressor building
2 cylindrical storaae
tanks, 25X1
diameter
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Area Functional Description Equipment and Facilities
Q Crude Oil Distillation 1 Unit with
1 atmospheric column
1 vacuum column
8 other columns (includes
two recycle columns)
2 banks of heat exchangers/
cooling coils/accumulators
3 furnaces
1 pump building
3 other buildings (one has
one horizontal tank)
5 cylindrical storage tanks,
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1 Unit with
1 atmospheric column
1 vacuum column
4 other columns
2 clusters of processing
equipment
3 furnaces
1 pump building
2 support buildings
Catalytic Cracking and Possible
Blending/Treating
(1) Catalytic Cracking 1 Unit with
1 cracking section containing
1 fractionating column
1 reactor
1 flash tower
1 regenerator
2 catalyst hoppers
2 banks of heat
exchangers/cooling
coils/accumulators
1 furnace
1 pump building
1 vapor recovery section
containing
2 columns
1 bank of heat
exchangers/cooling
coils/accumulators
1 compressor building
1 processing building
serving both sections
2 Support buildings
(2) Possible Blending/Treating 1 Unit with
4 possible horizontal
blending/treating tanks
1 processing building
2 cylindrical storage tanks,
30 feet in diameter
Water Treatment and Storage 3 Cooling towers
24 Miscellaneous buildings
6 Cylindrical storage tanks
4 30-foot-diameter
2 25X1
3 Tanks under construction
6 Semiburied storage.tanks
(not measured)
6 Water storage/treatment basins
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Area Functional Description Equipment and Facilities
Unidentified Secondary 1 Unit with
Processing 1 column
1 cluster of processing
equipment
2 processing buildings
2 horizontal processing/
storage tanks
1 Support building
1 Unit with
3 columns
1 cluster of processing
equipment
2 processing/pump buildings
6 Support buildings
2 Cylindrical storage tanks,
20 feet in diameter
4 Horizontal storage tanks
2 35-foot-long
2 25-foot-long
1 Gasholder,
55 feet in diameter
1 Flare tower
Storage and Support 17 Miscellaneous buildings
(one under construction)
Processing Unit Under Equipment not listed.
Construction
Chemical Processing Unit Equipment not listed.
Under Construction
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Map
2nd RTS. US Air Target Chart, Series 200, Sheet M0283-7HL, 2nd edition,
April 1968, Scale 1:200,000 (SECRET
Requirement
COMIREX N06
Support Number 422984
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