YEN-CHIH OIL REFINERY YEN-CHIH, CHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010042-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 18, 2008
• Sequence Number: 42
• Publication Date: April 1, 1973
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2008/06/18: CIA-RDP79T00909A000500010042-5
Top Secret
Industrial Facilities
(Non-Military)
DIRECTORATE OF
INTELLIGENCE
Basic Imagery Interpretation Report
Yen-chih Oil Refinery
Yen-chih, China
Top Secret
13/0020/73
25X1
DATE APRIL 1973
COPY 119
PAGES 5
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Directorate of Intelligence
Imagery Analysis Service
Yen-chih Oil Refinery
UTM COORDINATES
NA
GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES
MAP REFERENCE
U.S. Army Topographic Command, Series 1501, Sheet NJ 48-12, 1st ed, May 70,
Scale 1:250,000 (UNCLASSIFIED)
Yen-chih Oil Refinery processes crude oil produced at two nearby oil fields.
The only processing unit present at the refinery is a crude oil distillation
unit. The refinery is capable of producing straight-run gasoline, kerosene,
diesel and fuel oils, and gaseous hydrocarbons.
This report includes an annotated photograph of the refinery, dimensions
of the storage tanks, and a discussion of the status of the facilities.
Comments and queries regarding this publication are welcomed. They
may be directed to lof the Imagery Analysis Service, Code
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Yen-chih Oil Refinery is located 30 nautical miles (nm) west of
Yen-chih, in Ningsia Hui Autonomous Region (see Figure 1).
Crude oil is supplied to the refinery by pipeline from two small oil.
fields in the area. One field is adjacent to the refinery and the other is
3-4 nm north of the refinery. Exploration and a small field gathering system
for oil were observed 20 nm south-southwest of the refinery.
A pipeline connects the refinery to a possible products transfer area
20 nm to the north.
Steam for the refinery is provided by a collocated steam plant.
BASIC DESCRIPTION
The refinery and main storage area measures 975 by 550 feet and occupies
about 12 acres. The area is secured by a wall (see Figure 2).
Operational Functions
The only processing unit at the refinery is a crude oil distillation
unit. The unit has not been seen operating but its general appearance
suggests that it has been in operation. The steam plant associated with the
unit has been seen operating several times. The refinery is capable of pro-
ducing straight-run gasoline, kerosene, diesel and fuel oils, and gaseous
hydrocarbons. Some of the products from the refinery are probably intended
for local use while others will probably be sent for further processing to
a refinery which has secondary processing units. The steam plant uses some
hydrocarbons as fuel.
Construction and Operational Status
The steam plant adjacent to the refinery was built between January and
December 1967. The distillation unit and storage tanks were first seen under
construction in December 1970. At that time the distillation unit was in
a mid-to-late stage of construction indicating that it was probably begun
in early 1970. On the next available photography of February 1972 the unit
appeared complete but there was no evidence of operation. In July and October
1972, no emissions were seen around the unit but its darkened appearance
suggests that it was, or had been, operating.
The oil fields near the refinery have been present since at least 1966.
The fields have been slowly expanded during the period of this study.
Facilities and Equipment
The crude oil distillation unit has only an atmospheric distillation
section. Associated with the unit are 21 cylindrical storage tanks--nine
35-foot-diameter, seven 30-foot-diameter, three 20-foot-diameter, and two
10-foot-diameter.
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Map
U.S. Army Topographic Command, Series 1501, Sheet NJ 48-12, 1st edition,
May 1970, Scale 1:250,000 (UNCLASSIFIED)
Requirement
COMIREX N06
Support Number 423867
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