The construction of the Biosphere forms part of the ongoing full-scale modernisation of the Omsk Refinery, and is a major element in initiatives under the Federal ‘Clean Air’ project. The new water-treatment system is one of Gazprom Neft’s most important environmental projects in the Omsk Region, investment in which currently stands at RUB19 billion. Construction of the Biosphere is expected to be complete by 2021.
The Biosphere facility has been designed as a multi-stage water treatment complex. The Biosphere’s reservoir block comprises 12 100 – 20 000 m3 capacity tanks, produced by domestic Russian manufacturers to international standards. Following mixing in the reservoir block, the water is sent for mechanical cleaning, during which oil products and other impurities are removed. Thereafter, during physical–chemical cleaning, the water is purified by chemical reagents and sent to a special bio-reactor, where any remnants of oil products are absorbed by microorganisms. In the final stage water is passed through carbon filters, disinfected with ultraviolet light, and returned to the production cycle. Filtered oil products are then sent for processing and recycling.
Oleg Belyavsky, General Director at the Gazprom Neft Omsk Refinery, said: “The unique Biosphere water treatment complex comprehensively addresses the issues of reducing the environmental impacts of production. Safe and rational water usage is an important factor for any industrial enterprise. In introducing new-generation, environmentally friendly technologies we are conserving resources as well as achieving significant economic benefits.”
