Research Institute Transneft

In May 2009, the Commission of the Council of the Federation on Natural Monopolies and the Energy Committee of the State Duma of the Russian Federation organized a round table on the topic “Legislative Support for the Functioning and Development of the Russian Main Pipeline Transport”. A month later, a specialized commission of the Council of the Federation considered the creation of a single scientific national center designed to coordinate and organize the development of new technologies and equipment for the Russian oil pipeline industry. Recommendations to establish this center were given to Transneft ^[3] .

In accordance with the recommendations received, on September 22, 2009, the Scientific Research Institute for the Transport of Oil and Petroleum Products was established. And earlier, on September 3, 2009, LLC Research Institute of Oil and Oil Products Transport was established by the general meeting of the founders.

Since 2015, the Transneft Research Institute was headed by Yuri Lisin Lisin, who previously held the post of first vice president of Transneft ^{[4] [5]} . Since January 2018, Fridland Yakov Mikhailovich was appointed General Director of Transneft Research Institute ^[6] .

The structure of Transneft Research Institute includes a head office in Moscow and a Scientific and Technical Center in Bashkortostan , as well as a branch in Bryansk.

The Scientific and Technical Center of Transneft Research Institute in the city of Ufa is being created on the basis of the Institute for Energy Transportation Problems, which was acquired by Transneft Research Institute at auction in 2015 for 436.5 million rubles ^{[7] [8]} . At the moment, reconstruction of the building of the institute ^{[9] [10] is being} carried out. In the reconstructed scientific and technical center, it is planned to place innovative stands, laboratories and testing equipment that will allow research and development of transportation technologies for various types of oil, research on the mechanical and chemical properties of pipe steels ^[11] . The creation of a scientific and technical center is planned to be completed in the first half of 2018 ^[12] . As of January 2018, the number of employees is almost 700 people.

Among the main activities of the Transneft Research Institute can be identified research and development areas.

Research activities include:

• Conducting research, development and technological works in the field of construction and operation of trunk pipelines and pipeline transport facilities ^[13] ;
• Development of interstate and national standards for the construction and operation of pipeline transport facilities ^{[14] [15] [16]} ;
• Testing and laboratory experimental research ^[17] ;
• Conducting patent research, patenting and protecting the results of intellectual activity ^[18] .

Scientific and production activities include:

• Geotechnical monitoring of pipeline transport facilities ^[19] ;
• Development of prototypes of equipment, including for import substitution programs (oil metering units, shut-off and control valves, pumping equipment, etc.) ^{[20] [21] [22]} ;
• Development of methods for improving the energy efficiency of oil transportation technological processes ^{[23] [24]} .
• Research and experimental work on the study of the actual properties of steels of long-running pipelines ^[25] .

Research Institute Transneft has developed a drug for cleaning soil and water from oil pollution. This is a special biosorbent capable of biodegradation of oil at various temperatures, applicable, including in the Far North. This biosorbent has a shelf life of at least two years and retains sorption ability while under snow ^[26] . This biosorbent is supposed to be used to eliminate the effects of oil spills (or oil products) in various environments - soil, water, snow and ice. After application, the biosorbent does not require collection and disposal, it completely absorbs oil products and self-utilizes for a certain time ^[27] .

Specialists of Transneft Research Institute directly participated in the construction of the Zapolyarye-Purpe-Samotlor trunk oil pipeline , the construction of which was initiated by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 635. To this end, domestic and foreign experience in the creation of similar projects was studied, in particular, the experience of building and operating the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline in the United States. As a result of the work, support structures and other technological solutions for laying oil pipelines in permafrost conditions were developed ^[28] . Thermal insulation designs for underground and surface pipelines, process equipment, and oil storage tanks have also been developed. The purpose of this thermal insulation is to provide transportation and storage of oil in a heated form. The Institute’s developments related to the construction of the Zapolyarye – Purpe oil pipeline are protected not only by Russian patents, but also by patents of other states - the USA , Canada , Germany ^[29] .

Research and development of Transneft Research Institute in the field of energy-saving technologies and alternative energy sources is due to the remoteness and inaccessibility of many pipeline transport facilities where there is no infrastructure and the construction of traditional power transmission lines is not economically efficient ^[30] . Specialists of Transneft Research Institute have identified areas with maximum solar radiation, where it is advisable to install solar panels, as well as regions where the use of wind generators will be effective. Among other developments - an automated workplace of a technologist, which calculates the conditions for the optimal pumping of oil and oil products with minimal energy consumption; model and technical solutions used in the construction of new stations and allowing to reduce energy consumption and retain heat in the extreme north ^[31] .

The development of methods for improving the energy efficiency of technological processes of oil transportation is carried out by Transneft Research Institute, including in the framework of cooperation with the International Association of Oil Transporters (MATN): the parties cooperate in the development of a methodology for benchmarking energy efficiency among MATN participants ^{[32] [33]} .

Since 2011, the Transneft Research Institute has been publishing a specialized scientific journal “Science and Technology of Pipeline Transport of Oil and Oil Products” ^[34] , which is included in the list of ^[35] peer-reviewed scientific publications of the Higher Attestation Commission . In 2017, Transneft Research Institute decided to create the international scientific and technical journal Pipeline Science and Technology, published in the UK ^[36] .

Makhutov, Nikolai Andreevich - Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, Chief Researcher of Transneft Research Institute LLC ^{[37] [38]} .

Zhukov, Alexander Petrovich (rescuer) - Russian military rescuer, Colonel, Hero of the Russian Federation, researcher at Transneft Research Institute LLC ^[39] .