PLEVEN PETROLEUM REFINERY YASEN YASEN, BULGARIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00909A000300010058-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 2, 2008
• Sequence Number: 58
• Publication Date: January 1, 1972
• Content Type: REPORT

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Top Secret
Industrial Facilities
(Non-Military)
DIRECTORATE OF
INTELLIGENCE
Basic Imagery Interpretation Report
Pleven Petroleum Refinery Yasen
Yasen, Bulgaria
Top Secret
RCS I-Vnni 7 79
25X1
JANUARY 1972
COPY 118
PAGES 1
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Directorate of Intelligence
Imagery Analysis Service
Pleven Petroleum Refinery Yasen
MAP REFERENCE
ACIC. USATC, Series 200, Sheet 0322-4HL, 3rd ed, Feb 64, Scale 1:200,000
(SECRET)
NEGATION DATE (If required)
25X1
Pleven Petroleum Refinery Yasen is a small refinery which is part of the
petroleum and petrochemical complex being constructed in the Pleven area. The
major production components of the refinery are a crude oil distillation unit
and a lubricating oil plant. The primary products are lubricating oils,
heavy fuels, and petrochemical feedstocks.
The refinery has not been seen operating on photography. Construct.ion
began between February 1967 and March 1968. By June 1970, the crude oil
distillation unit was complete and the refinery appeared capable of partial
operation, but no indicators of operation were observed., On the latest
coverage in June 1971, all of the major processing units appeared complete,.
tank cars were present, and the flare tower was operating.' The refinery
appeared capable of full operation, but it probably was not operating
at that time based on the absence of smoke or vapors from the processing
equipment, cooling towers, and power plant.
This report contains a line drawing, a photograph of the refinery, a
chart showing the construction chronology of individual units, mensuration
of storage tanks, and a discussion of construction and operational status
of facilities.
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RCS - 13 0017/72
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YUGOSLAVIA
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INTRODUCTION
Pleven Petroleum Refinery Yasen is located 1 nautical mile (nm) south
of Yasen and 4 nm west of Pleven (see Figure 1). It was designed and equipped
by the Soviets. The refinery is part of a complex of petroleum and petrochemical
industries under construction which reportedly will be Bulgaria's largest oil
refining center when completed. 1/
Crude oil to charge the refinery reportedly comes from the new Dolni Dubnik
oil field located west of the refinery. Electric power is supplied by the
collocated heat and thermal power plant (no BE number).
Physical Features
The refinery occupies an irregular shaped area about 5,600 by 4,300 feet
containing about 570 acres (see Figures 2 and 3). Rail service is provided
by a spur from the rail line between Pleven and Cherven Bryag.
Operational Functions
The primary products of the refinery are lubricating oils, heavy fuels,
and petrochemical feedstocks. The major production components are a crude
oil distillation unit and a lubricating oil plant. In addition, a small
unidentified secondary processing unit (Area U) is present.
The crude oil distillation unit is capable of producing lubricating
oil feedstocks, diesel and fuel oils, kerosene, straight-run gasoline, and
gaseous hydrocarbons. The lighter fractions (straight-run gasoline and gaseous
hydrocarbons) are usually further refined in secondary processing units if
they are to be used as fuels. Since these secondary processing units are
not present, it is assumed that the lighter fractions are shipped from the
refinery as petrochemical feedstocks. The kerosene and diesel and fuel oils
from this unit can be used with a minimum of additional processing.
The lubricating oil plant is capable of producing a wide range of
lubricating oils as well as waxes and asphaltic materials from the feedstocks
produced in the crude oil distillation unit. The plant contains a probable
deasphalting unit, a solvent extraction unit, a dewaxing unit, a clay treatment
unit, and a possible hydrotreating unit. The solvent extraction unit (Area 0)
is larger and more complex than standard Soviet units and may have some additional
processing capability. The possible hydrotreating unit (Area J) is considered
part of the lubricating oil plant due to its location, but it could also
treat kerosene or heavy fuels.
Construction and Operational Status
Construction of the refinery began between February 1967 and March 1968.
On the March 1968 photography, only ground scarring in the storage and processing
areas was observed. By September 1969, an unidentified secondary processing
unit, two support areas, and a storage area were complete, and the crude oil
distillation unit was very near completion.
The refinery reportedly began production in December 1969. 2/ However,
it has not been seen operating on photography. By June 1970, the crude oil
disti?Ilation unit, a storage area, and the water treatment facility were
complete. The refinery appeared capable of partial operation, but no
indicators of operation were observed.
On the latest coverage in June 1971, all of the major processing units
appeared complete. Only a probable secondary processing unit and two storage
areas remained under construction. The flare tower was burning and rail tank
cars were present in Shipping Area E. The refinery appeared capable of full
operation, but it probably was not operating based on the absence of smoke
or vapors from the processing equipment, cooling towers, and power plant.
It may be that the flare tower was burning waste gas from the adjacent
oil field and that the rail cars were present for shipping out crude
oil. It is also possible that the refinery had been operating prior
to the date of photography.
Figure 4 shows the construction chronology of the individual units.
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A
WATER TREATMENT
B
STORAGE
C
STORAGE
D
SUPPORT
E
SHIPPING
[
F
STORAGE
G
SHIPPING AND STORAGE
C
H
WATER COOLING AND TREATMENT
I
STORAGE
J
POSSIBLE HYDROTREATING
K
SHIPPING AND STORAGE
L
CRUDE OIL DISTILLATION
M
PROBABLE DEASPHALTING
N
CLAY TREATMENT
1 -
JL-
0
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
p
PROBABLE SECONDARY PROCESSING UNIT U/C
Q
DEWAXING
R
SUPPORT
S
ADMINISTRATION AND SUPPORT
T
SUPPORT
U
U/I SECONDARY PROCESSING
LEGEND
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
COMPLETE
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Facilities and Equipment
Table 1 lists the functional areas, facilities, and equipment within the
refinery. Measurements are given to the nearest half-meter.
Table 1. Equipment and Facilities at the Pleven Petroleum Refinery Yasen
(Keyed to Figure 3)
Area Functional Description Equipment and Facilities
A Water Treatment 1 Treating building
2 Pump buildings
6 Support buildings
2 Cylindrical storage tanks, 12
meters in diameter
3 Water treatment basins
10 Water treatment/storage basins
B Storage 5 Support buildings
7 Cylindrical storage tanks under
construction, each probably 45
meters in diameter
C Storage
D Support
E Shipping
F Storage
1 Shipping building/warehouse
1 Support building
2 Loading/unloading racks, each
covered by a shed roof
4 Spherical storage tanks,
""
1_~ -ma ar- iamA ar
4 9-meter-diameter
12 12-meter-diameter
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2
2 Pump buildings
5 Other buildings
57 Cylindrical storage tanks
6 24-meter-diameter
4 25X1
r 25X1
emi urie tanks (not measured)
G Shipping and Storage 2 Pump; buildings
2 Shipping buildings
3 Other buildings
84 Cylindrical storage tanks
17 25X1
8
15 6-meter-diameter
36 25X1
4 3-meter-diameter
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Area Functional Description
Equipment and Facilities
H Water Cooling and Treatment 2 Pump buildings
1 Water treatment building
4 Cooling towers
3 with 3 cells
1 with 2 cells
2 Semiburied tanks (not measured)
3 Water treatment basins
Storage
3 Pump buildings
4 Other buildings
25 Cylindrical storage tanks
3
25X1
3 25X1
11 25X1
3 Horizontal storage tanks,
12 meters long
1 Semiburied cylindrical tank
(not measured)
J Possible Hydrotreating
1 Unit with
2 columns
1 bank of processing
equipment
1 pipe furnace
1.pump building
K Shipping and Storage
1 Bank of processing equipment
2 Pump buildings
3 Shipping buildings
4 Other buildings
49 Cylindrical storage tanks
6 12-meter-diameter
10 25X1
3 9-meter-diameter
16
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4 6-meter-diameter
1O
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13 Horizontal storage tanks
7 15-meter-long
6 12-meter-long
1 Cylindrical storage tank
under construction
L Crude Oil Distillation 1 Unit with
1 atmospheric column
1 vacuum column
6 other columns
2 possible desalting drums
1 bank of heat exchangers/
cooling coils/accumulators
2 pipe furnaces
1 processing building
2 pump buildings
1 control house
1 Flare tower
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Area Functional Description Equipment and Facilities
M Probable Deasphalting
N Clay Treatment
0 Solvent Extraction
1 Unit with
7 columns
1 pipe furnace
1 processing building
1 pump building
2 Support buildings
5 Horizontal storage tanks
4 18-meter-long
1 12-meter-long
1 Unit with
1 bank of processing
equipment containing
probable treating towers
1 bank of batch agitators
1 bank of processing equipment
1 pipe furnace
1 filter building
1 clay receiving building
4 Semib'uried cylindrical tanks
(not measured)
3
1 9-meter-diameter
3
tanks
6 pipe furnaces
1 pump building
1 s'emiburied tank
1 Pump building
2 Other buildings
17 Cylindrical storage tanks
1 Unit with
3 columns
3 banks of processing
equipment, each containing
columns
2 banks of heat exchangers/
cooling coils/accumulators
4 possible solvent storage
P Probable Secondary Processing Facilities not listed.
Unit U/C
Q Dewaxing 1 Unit with
2 solvent regeneration
sections, each with
9 columns and 2 banks
of processing equipment
2 banks of processing
equipment, each with
an attached bank of
crystallizer drums
1 chiller building
2 filter buildings
1 pump/processing building
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Area
Func
tional Description
Equipment and Facilities
Q (Cont)
1 Pump building
1 Support building
13 Cylindrical storage tanks,
12 meters in diameter
1 Semiburied cylindrical tank
R
Support
11 Support buildings
2 Storage buildings
S
Administration and Support
2 Administration buildings
1 Possible laboratory
11 Support buildings
T
Support
2 Vehicle sheds
4 Support buildings
2 Horizontal tanks, 15 meters long
U
Unidentified Secondary Processing
1 Unit with
1 column
2 horizontal processing tanks
1 bank of processing equipment
1 pump/processing building
3 Support buildings
3 Cylindrical storage tanks,
15 meters in diameter
1 Horizontal storage tank,
12 meters long
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ur JtLKt ll Kurr
Map
ACIC. US Air Target Chart, Series 200, Sheet 0322-4HL, 3rd edition,
February 1964, Scale 1:200,000 (SECRET)
1. "The Pleven Petrochemical Works," Economic News of Bulgaria,
September 1966 (UNCLASSIFIED)
2. CIA. CRS, Firm No. K300233, FBIS 69 L 5613, December 1969
(OFFICIAL USE ONLY)
Requirement
COMIREX N06
Support Number 422992
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Top Secret
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