Hydrostatic testing of the Ethylene Fractionator, manufactured for the polyethylene plant currently under construction in the Atyrau Region with an annual capacity of 1.25 million tonnes, has been successfully completed at the production facility of AtyrauNefteMash LLP.
With a diameter of 7.5 metres, the column is one of the largest and heaviest pieces of process equipment ever produced by a domestic machine-building enterprise. The equipment stands 101 metres tall and weighs approximately 1,500 tonnes.
Hydrostatic testing is an important stage of quality assurance. It is conducted to verify the column’s tightness, the strength of welded joints, and its ability to withstand design loads. During the test, the column was filled with approximately 4,400 cubic metres of water, after which the pressure was increased to 3 MPa, exceeding its operating pressure. The total weight of the column filled with water reached approximately 5,500 tonnes. The successful test confirmed the equipment’s compliance with established safety and reliability requirements.
The column is currently being prepared for painting and subsequent shipment to the polyethylene plant construction site located within the National Industrial Petrochemical Technopark Special Economic Zone.
In addition to the Ethylene Fractionator, AtyrauNefteMash is manufacturing another major piece of equipment for the project — the Quench Tower, which weighs approximately 700 tonnes, exceeds 50 metres in height, and has a diameter of 10 metres. The company is also producing a deaerator designed to remove dissolved gases from the water treatment system. The deaerator weighs 145 tonnes and stands 27 metres high.
The production of large-scale process equipment by a Kazakhstani manufacturer represents an important example of local content development and demonstrates the growing capabilities of domestic engineering companies in implementing the country’s largest petrochemical projects.
Silleno supports the involvement of local manufacturers in the implementation of the polyethylene plant project, contributing to the development of Kazakhstan’s industrial sector and creating new opportunities for domestic enterprises.
