PENETRON Admixture Resists Siberian Cold at Gas Processing Plant

Soon to be the largest natural gas processing facility in Russia (and the world’s second biggest), the Amur Gas Processing Plant in Svodbodny completed the initial phase of construction in June 2019. Penetron crystalline technology provided protection for the plant’s foundation structures from the extreme climate common in Siberia.

Located on the banks of the Zeya River approximately 60 miles from the Chinese border, Svobodny was founded in 1912 during construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway network, which connects the western part of Russia with Far East Russia on the Pacific coast – a distance of over 9,000 km (5,600 miles). Predictably, Svobodny (55,000 inhabitants) is a key transportation hub, with railway maintenance facilities, and also a base for the Amur River steamship fleet.

World’s 2nd Largest Gas Processing Plant

The Amur Gas Processing Plant’s (GPP) six production lines (each producing 7 billion m3 of gas) are being constructed in phases to correspond with the development of Gazprom’s production capacities in the Yakutia and Irkutsk regions of Siberia directly to the north. In addition, the GPP will have the world’s largest helium production facility, as well as producing ethane and liquefied hydrocarbon gases.

The first two lines are slated for commissioning by 2021. The GPP is an integral part of Russia’s production chain linking the country’s natural gas production centers at the Kovyktinskoye deposit in Irkutsk region and the Chayandinskoye oil, gas and condensate field in Yakutia. The GPP will be an essential natural gas supply link to China.

Withstanding an Extreme Climate

The concrete foundations for the key facilities of the GPP were treated with PENETRON ADMIX to provide protection against the natural deterioration factors caused by the groundwater and extreme Siberian temperature swings. Added during the batching phase, PENETRON ADMIX becomes an integral part of the concrete matrix by forming insoluble crystals, making the concrete impermeable. PENETRON ADMIX performs consistently throughout the life of the concrete, providing complete protection against concrete deterioration caused by chemical attack, freeze-thaw cycles and corrosion.

“Compared to the membrane waterproofing solution that was originally specified for the GPP, Penetron has significantly reduced construction time and saved construction costs,” says Igor Chernogolov, President of Penetron Russia. “As a waterproofing solution, it will last for the lifetime of the concrete, virtually eliminating future maintenance of the building’s concrete structures.”