Novatek tests first Russian large-scale cryogenic pump at Yamal LNG

Russian independent LNG export player Novatek has successfully tested the first large-scale cryogenic pump manufactured in Russia at the Yamal LNG project.

Novatek said on Monday that the cryogenic pump was designed and manufactured by Afrikantov OKB Mechanical Engineering, a part of JSC Atomenergomash.

The cryogenic pump tests were conducted at Yamal LNG’s current LNG tank storage and the tests confirmed the pump’s performance consistent with its design parameters. The pilot cryogenic pump is presently operating at Yamal LNG.

Leonid Mikhelson, Novatek’s chairman of the management board, said: “One of Novatek’s key priorities is to develop and foster LNG technologies and capabilities in Russia. Our joint work under the agreement we signed with Atomenergomash in 2017 has already yielded significant results.

“We have jointly developed Russia’s first domestically manufactured large-scale LNG cryogenic pump and commissioned its pilot operations at our Yamal LNG plant.

“The further use of Russian developed and manufactured equipment at our LNG projects will ensure import substitution and reduce capital costs, as well as contribute to the development of a new industrial sector in Russia”.

To remind, Novatek and Atomenergomash signed a memorandum on strategic partnership in 2019 to localize the fabrication of critical equipment for LNG production.

At the time, the memorandum noted the results already achieved on the fabrication of coil-wound heat exchangers and medium-tonnage cryogenic pumps, and establishes the obligations of the parties on design, manufacturing and conducting pilot tests of high-tonnage cryogenic pumps.

Yamal LNG is an integrated project encompassing natural gas production, liquefaction and shipping. The Project consists of the construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant with an output capacity of around 16.5 million tons per year, using the South Tambey Field as a resource base. The field’s proven and probable reserves, by PRMS standards, are estimated at 926 billion cubic meters. 

The project is operated by Yamal LNG, a joint venture between Novatek which holds a 50.1 per cent stake and its partners Total, CNPC, and the Silk Road Fund which hold 20, 20, 9.9 per cent, respectively.