ENGINEERINGNET.EU -- WEG is to supply explosion-protected high efficiency motors to Rosneft, Russia's leading oil company, that will be installed in the harshness of the Arctic Circle.
In ambient temperatures down to -60°C, the motors are to drive crude oil pumps in the giant Vankor Oil Field situated in the Siberian Region.
Vankor is one of Rosneft's most important projects; and is also one of the largest industrial projects in Russia. The field is important for the development of Russia's Oil and Gas industry, and for the Russian economy at large.
This is evidenced by Rosneft's investment of $2.7 billion in the field in 2012: a 3.8% increase over 2011. There are plans to produce 18 million tons of oil this year, 20% more than in 2011. In 2013, the company plans to bring the field to its design capacity of 25.3 million tons, by which time there will be a total of 425 wells on the Vankor site.
Oil extracted from the Vankor field is expected to be transported along the 4,700Km ESPO (Eastern Siberia Pacific Ocean) oil pipeline, when it is completed in 2014. The oil exported via the pipeline is destined for the Asian Pacific markets of Japan, China and Korea.
The contract for the flameproof motors was awarded to WEG Electric CIS through its partner EnergoFront. The motors are frame size 450KH, rated 500kW, 10,000V, and Ex d IIB T4 classified area certified, according to Russian (GOST-R) and International standards.
Financial details were not revealed.
BACKGROUND
A global major in the power distribution, automation and control sectors, WEG has just celebrated its 50th birthday. The company’s global sales now exceed the US$3-billion mark. WEG has also recently made a strategic expansion, following the establishment of a joint venture for the manufacturing of wind turbines and the purchase of an Austrian gearbox manufacturer, WATT Drive.
