APPLICATION OF INDUSTRIAL SYMBIOSIS CONCEPT TO OIL AND GAS SECTOR ON EXAMPLE OF ASSOCIATED PETROLEUM GAS PROCESSING

Abstract

Nowadays, the state level has set the task of forming a systematic approach to secondary resources management that were obtained from production waste, as well as increasing the efficiency of resource useage throughout the production life cycle. This is evidenced by the initiation and implementation of the sectoral program «Usage of secondary resources and secondary raw materials from waste in industrial production», supervised by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation since November 2022, Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of November 4, 2020 No. 666 «On Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions», Strategy «Socio-Economic Development of the Russian Federation with Low Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2050» approved by order of the Government of the Russian Federation of October 29, 2021 No. 3052-r and Federal Law of 02.07.2021  No. 296-FZ «On Limiting Greenhouse Gas Emissions» (entered into force 30.12.2021). To achieve economic, social and environmental sustainability, it is necessary to interact between enterprises, universities and authorities in order to stimulates the application of the principles of circular economics. This article discusses the problem of utilization and use of associated petroleum gas, as well as analyzes the possibilities of applying the concept of industrial symbiosis both to reduce the produced resources and minimize the loss of materials during use. The relevance of this topic is justified by an increase in the volume of associated petroleum gas (APG) production and, accordingly, the damage caused to the environment due to its combustion. In addition, insufficient financial investment hinders the successful development of innovative economic schemes such as industrial symbiosis. The methods of APG disposal and processing used at present were analyzed, the negative consequences of combustion, sanctions imposed by the state and restrictions on their application were investigated. According to the authors, an important problem is the lack of new technologies, as well as the low level of their technological readiness, which leads to the use of most APG as energy resources instead of its processing. The study briefly discusses the main methods of processing associated petroleum gas, their advantages and disadvantages, as well as possible recommended areas of APG use. The effectiveness and feasibility of introducing the concept of industrial symbiosis in the oil industry is justified. As a result of the study, the authors of this article proposed the most optimal option for processing and further use of the obtained components, the probability and reality of the implementation of the described processing method is also described.