SA-ERH-TU PETROLEUM REFINERY AND STORAGE SA-ERH-TU, CHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010026-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 18, 2008
• Sequence Number: 26
• Publication Date: June 1, 1969
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010026-3
Top Secret
.DIRECTORATE OF
INTELLIGENCE
Industrial Facilities
(Non-Military)
Basic Imagery Interpretation Report
Sa-erh-tu Petroleum Refinery and Storage
Sa-erh-tu, China
Df\1L
COPY
PAGES
Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010026-3
 Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010026-3
Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010026-3
 Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010026-3
TOP SECRET. RUFF
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Directorate of Intelligence
Imagery Analysis Service
Sa-erh-tu Petroleum Refinery and Storage
UTM COORDINATES
51TXM614532
GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES
46-32-OON 125-06-OOE
WAC-P I C No25X1
0283-118
MAP REFERENCE
2nd RTS. USATC Series 200, Sheet M0283-7HL 2nd edition April 1968, Scale
1-200-000
This report provides a detailed imagery-derived analysis of Sa-erh-tu
Petroleum Refinery and Storage based on small-scale photography from November
1961 through November 1968.
Surveying of the Sa-erh-tu site was completed by December 1962. Construction
of the refinery occurred in three phases, each requiring approximately. two years.
The facilities added during each phase went into operation upon completion. The
refinery was in partial operation by November 1964 and was observed complete
and in full operation on photography of November 1968.
The refinery is capable of producing straight-run, cracked, and blended
gasolines, diesel and fuel oils, coke and gaseous hydrocarbons.
The report includes a detailed line drawing and photograph of the refinery,
mensuration of tanks, a chronology of construction and operational status, and
reference data.
TOP SECRET RUFF
25X1
25X1
Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010026-3
Not Required
 Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010026-3 25X1
TOP SECRET RUFF
-2-
TOP SECRET RUFF
Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010026-3
 Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010026-3
TOP SECRET RUFF
Sa-erh-tu Petroleum Refinery and Storage is located in the southeastern
section of Heilungkiang Province in the center marsh area of the Sung-liao
Plain. The refinery is about 5 nautical miles (nm) southeast of the town
of Sa-erh-tu which was developed to support the exploration work and the
subsequent drilling and development program in the surrounding oil fields.
Crude oil for charging the refinery is brought in from the adjacent
fields by pipeline. Products and crude in excess of that used locally are
transported from Sa-erh-tu by truck and rail tank cars. This excess is
probably shipped to refining facilities in eastern China. The principal
rail line serving this area is between La-ma-tien and Har-erh-pin. A network
of primary roads also serves the plant.
Plants and facilities which are associated with the refinery include
a heat and thermal power plant, a field storage and loading facility, a
possible oil processing plant, and a possible petrochemical plant.
Physical Features
The refinery is large, occupying a rectangular area which measures
approximately 5,845 by 3,190 feet and encompasses 455 acres. The refinery
and the storage areas are wall secured.
Operational Functions
Based upon the identification of the equipment now complete and in
operation, the products of this refinery are straight-run, cracked, and
blended gasolines, diesel and fuel oils, coke, and gaseous hydrocarbons.
Construction Status and Activity
Construction of the Sa-erh-tu Petroleum Refinery began about November
1961, and the refinery was first seen in production in November 1964. The
refinery was constructed in three phases following completion of surveying.
The facilities added during each pbase went into operation upon completion.
The refinery was observed in limited operation on all photography from
November 1964 until November 1968 when it was first observed in full
operation.
The following is a generalized history of the refinery, covering the
planning stage and three phases of development which followed. No detailed
-3-
TOP SECRET RUFF
25X1
25X1
Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010026-3
 Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010026-3
TOP SECRET RUFF
chronological accounting of the construction of the various items of equip-
ment or facilities is presented in this report; however, specific items are
noted to illustrate significant points of development in the complex.
November 1961 - December 1962 -- Construction support facilities were
built and the survey of the refinery site appeared to be completed.
December 1962 - November 1964 (Ist Phase) -- The first phase of development
was completed with the installation of the crude distillation unit, the probable
thermal cracking unit, and the processing equipment in the unidentified area.
These were.in operation in November 1964 as evidenced by emissions from the
thermal cracking unit and the cooling towers. Smoke was observed coming
from the flare tower for the first time on imagery of November 1964. Also
present were most of the crude, intermediate, and product storage tanks and
the water treatment area.
November 1964 - March 1966 (2nd Phase) -- The second phase of development
was completed with the construction of the delayed coking unit and two
possible multistage distillation units (crude distillation area). The two
loading facilities were completed and rail cars were observed for the first
time on photography of November 1965. The water treatment area was expanded
with the addition of five semiburied tanks. The support area and remaining
storage tanks were completed. The facilities added during this phase of
development appeared to be in operation on photography of January 1966, as
indicated by emissions from the delayed coking area, the crude distillation
area, and the cooling towers.
March 1966 - November 1968 (3rd Phase) -- The third phase was completed,
and the newly installed possible reforming units were in operation on coverage
of November 1968, as evidenced by emissions from the associated cooling
towers. Two additional basins were under construction in the water treatment
area, and the six semiburied tanks had been completed. Three trains were
observed within the refinery's loading facility on photography of November
1968.
Facilities and Equipment
The following table lists the functional areas and equipment within the
refinery. All items are keyed to Figure 3.
SUMMARY OF EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES AT THE
SA-ERH-TU PETROLEUM REFINERY AND STORAGE
Area Description
Equipment
A Loading Facility 3 rail served loading racks
(not shown on graphic)
18 storage/support buildings
-4-
TOP SECRET RUFF
25X1
25X1
Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010026-3
 Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010026-3
TOP SECRET RUFF
Description
Equipment
Crude Oil Storage 8 support buildings
43 cylindrical tanks
Support/Storage
Products
and
Intermediates
Handling
and
Storage
Products
and
Intermediates
Handling
and
Storage
Possible Reforming
46 support/storage buildings
Undetermined number of storage tanks
(not measurable)
6 support buildings
54 cylindrical tanks
I settling basin
6 buildings
?4 cvlindrical tanks
I possible reforming unit
bank of 3 reactors/columns
bank of processing equipment
3 pipe furnaces
I possible reforming unit
bank of reactors/columns
3 pipe furnaces
7 support buildings
I possible multistage distillation unit
5 columns
3 pipe furnaces
I possible multistage distillation unit
3 columns
2 pipe furnaces
I control building
6 support buildings
2 cylindrical tanks
diam. 30 ft.
Products and Intermediates 2 support buildings
Storage 18 cylindrical tanks
-5-
TOP SECRET RUFF
Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010026-3
 Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010026-3
TOP SECRET RUFF
Description
Crude Distillation
Probable Thermal Cracking
Equipment
2 fractionators
2 pipe furnaces
I building
3 columns (probable reactor, flash
tower, and fractionator)
pipe furnaces
support buildings
2
2
U/I Processing
2
I
I
2
Support
4
10
I
3
Delayed Coking
I
2
I
5
7
I
I
I
I
Area of Expansion
fractionators
large petrochemical or DeFlorez
type furnace
compressor building
support buildings
banks of cooling towers
buildings
spray pond
cylindrical tanks
diam. 30 ft.
delayed coker with 2 drums
banks of cooling towers
shipping building
support buildings
cylindical tanks
3 diam. 30 ft.
settling basin
basin U/C
basin
bank of cooling towers
13 support buildings
6 semiburied tanks
I cylindrical tank
I flare tower
5 support buildings
-6-
TOP-SECRET RUFF
Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010026-3
 Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010026-3
IUP SECRET RUFF
Area Description
P Loading Facility
Equipment
2 loading racks
(not shown on graphic)
12 support buildings
20 cylindrical tanks
-7-
TOP SECRET RUFF
2 semi buried tanks
13 tank bases
diam. 30 ft.
Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010026-3
 Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010026-3
TOP SECRET RUFF
25X1
LJ/\ I
-8-
TOP SECRET RUFF
Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010026-3
 TOP SECRET RUFF
0
Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010026-3
111111111JI111111111111111111111 l 1111111116 111111111111111111111111;
n4 19 C) no 000 13 99 .,00
c 0
O
0
o ? o
oa o
:111111111111111uu111111111111111111111F
o 0
~~ ? Q 0 ?1~~?
0
O
unwd
mmmnmwu~nuuunuu.......... v ................
n U 3 El U u 0000
^~ =? M
~O19 po V- 711111111111%
IIII 0 00000
000 00000 88 00
000 00000 00 00
00 00 ??0 0 _
n _c 000 8 77,
00
00 00
00 00
00 00
00 00
-W
II
nuuu111u111111111111111111
t\-
O B
rw-'1-7
N0
TOP SECRET RUFF
LEGEND
BUILDING
FURNACE
TANK
COOLING TOWERS
SEMIBURIED TANK
WALL
SETTLING BASIN OR
SPRAY POND
PROCESSING EQUIPMENT
STACK
RAILROAD
FLARE TOWER
TANK BASES
KEY TO ANNOTATIONS
DESCRIPTION
LOADING FACILITY
CRUDE OIL STORAGE
SUPPORT/STORAGE
PRODUCTS AND INTERMEDIATES
HANDLING AND STORAGE
PRODUCTS AND INTERMEDIATES
HANDLING AND STORAGE
POSSIBLE REFORMING
CRUDE DISTILLATION
PRODUCTS AND INTERMEDIATES
STORAGE
CRUDE DISTILLATION
PROBABLE THERMAL CRACKING
U/I PROCESSING
SUPPORT
DELAYED COKING
WATER TREATMENT
AREA OF EXPANSION
LOADING FACILITY
Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010026-3
 Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010026-3
TOP SECRET RUFF
Maps and Charts
2nd RTS. US Air Target Chart Series 200, Sheet M0283-7HL, 2nd edition,
1:200.0 00 (SECRET
1. CIA. PIR 75011, Oil Field and Refinery Complex, Sa-erh-tu, China,
July 1966 (TOP SECRET RUFF)
INew Oilfield in North East (Map), 27 May 1963
3. State. A-742. China's Taching Oilfield: Elcipse of an Industrial Model,
27 August 1968 (SECRET)
4. Sa-erh-tu (46? 35'N, 125? 00'E) An-ta-chan '25X1
-chi-ha-erh (47 22'N, 123? -,)/-E), China,
(46? 24'N, 125? 19'E) Chi
6 November 1963-(SECRET 25X1
25X1
Requirement
EXSUBCOM - BR-N/002-69
-I0-
TOP SECRET RUFF
Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010026-3
 Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010026-3
Top Secret
Top Secret
Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010026-3