Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee and Anatoly Chubais, Director General of RUSNANO held a joint meeting in Gazprom headquarters on nanotech products development and their introduction at Gazprom's production facilities.

Taking part in the meeting, were Members of the Gazprom Management Committee and heads of the Company's structural units, as well as heads of RUSNANO structural units.

The parties considered the course of companies' cooperation in the frame of the Protocol of Joint Actions and Program to boost the demand for innovative and, inter alia, nanotech products in the gas industry.

It was noted that Gazprom actively engaged with the RUSNANO design companies. In particular, one of them, Plakart, has developed metallized protective coatings distinguished by their high corrosion resistance. They are applied using the method of gas-thermal evaporation avoiding demounting of large-scale equipment. Experimental evaluation showed that protective coatings, as well as the procedure of their application, assure long-term corrosion and erosion resistance in working temperature of more than 100°C over alkalis, acids and other deleterious substances.

Gazprom Dobycha Astrakhan and Plakart carried out operations on introducing the coatings at the Astrakhan Gas Processing Plant. As a result, corrosion of processing units working surfaces was retarded, and their service lives grew longer. This project was awarded Gazprom 2012 Science and Technology Prize.

In the nearest future it is planned to certify the process of protective coatings gas-thermal evaporation to increase wear resistance of the equipment at gas processing, transmission and underground storage facilities. Moreover, Gazprom and RUSNANO are working through the possibility of applying the coatings in offshore facilities construction.

The meeting paid attention to the introduction of protective corrosion-resistant coatings developed by RUSNANO design companies into pipe production. Positive findings on the results of experimental evaluations have already been received from Chelyabinsk Pipe-Rolling Plant and Timashevsk Pipe-Coating Plant, the coatings have been also tested at Vyksa Steel Works, and it is scheduled to test them at Almetyevsk Pipe Plant and Moscow Pipe-Coating Plant by the end of the current year.

The participants of the meeting mentioned production and introduction of composite materials as one of prospective lines of Gazprom and RUSNANO joint cooperation. In particular, RUSNANO is working on the composite wrap test model for overhauling gas trunklines, and it is to be tested in 2013. Moreover, new engineering solutions are being developed for sulfur-asphalt concrete production.

The meeting attended to RUSNANO's activities on water and solution purifier membranes production, as well as energy-saving equipment development. By the end of the year, the companies will bring forward proposals on using membranes in producing water vapor at Astrakhan Gas Processing Plant sulfur production units, and on introducing comprehensive energy efficient approaches at Gazprom Transgaz Yugorsk facilities.

The parties decided to continue assessing nanotech products conformity to Gazprom requirements and their introduction into the Company's operating activities. It was also decided that by the end of 2012 the companies accepted the Scheme for Gazprom – RUSNANO Cooperation on New Projects Elaboration and the Priorities of Gazprom – RUSNANO Science and Technology Cooperation until 2020.

 “Today we with RUSNANO clearly understand what trends make us interested in each other. The first steps on the way to long-term cooperation have already been taken. Our main objective now is to get the most out of this work in terms of Gazprom's cost optimization.

Thus, Gazprom may considerably cut down expenses on purchasing and further operation of pipe products due to new technologies developed by RUSNANO. The meeting dedicated to this issue will be held within two weeks among Gazprom, RUSNANO and Russian pipe companies,” Alexey Miller said.

Background

In November 2010 Gazprom and RUSNANO signed the Protocol of Joint Actions. This document stipulates wider use of nanotechnologies by gas industry companies.

In September 2011 Gazprom and RUSNANO approved a Program to boost the demand for innovative and, inter alia, nanotech products in the gas industry.

In June 2011 the Gazprom Innovative Development Program until 2020 was approved. The Program is aimed at constant improvement of Gazprom's technology level to keep up the position of an engineering leader in the global energy business.

The document contains a package of measures on developing and adopting new technologies, innovative products and services in Gazprom at hydrocarbons production, transmission and processing facilities, power plants as well as measures to create favorable conditions for the intense innovative development.

The Program stipulates a pro-active approach to cooperation with corporate and independent research institutions as part of the R&D activities as well as with higher education institutions in joint studies and staff training.