This year, for the first time, Tula State University is enrolling students in the bachelor's degree programme "Oil and Gas Engineering" for the first time this year. It will be implemented at the “Mechanics of Materials and Geotechnology” Department of the Institute of Mining and Construction.

Our university received an invitation from Yuriy Nikolayevich Kolesnik, Director of the International Business Academy of the Republican Unitary Enterprise "Production Association "Belorusneft", for our university staff to have the opportunity to undertake a work placement in order to familiarise themselves with the best practices of oil, gas and refined products production, storage, transportation and sales. The fact is that since 1964 Belarus has been processing oil produced at the only field in the country, situated near the town of Rechitsa. The oil and gas industry plays an important role in the economy of the Republic.

The 22-26 July work placement was undertaken by Sergey Vladimirovich Antsiferov, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Acting Head of the "Mechanics of Materials and Geotechnology" Department at the Institute of Mining and Construction.

He got acquainted with the activities of the main divisions of the Production Association "Belorusneft". Thus, in the Central Administrative Office of the enterprise, Alexander Olegovich Barzykin, Head of the Power Grid Operation Department of the Power Engineering Department, told the Tula State University scientist about fuel and energy and power supply facilities, as well as the peculiarities of their power supply.

Sergey Vladimirovich also visited the Belarusian Research and Design Institute of Oil (BelNIPIneft).

Anna Alexeyevna Yeroshenko, Head of the Centre for Core Processing, Research and Storage, gave the Tula colleague a tour around the only core storage facility in the Republic of Belarus, where thousands of rock samples obtained while drilling various wells are presented. Core samples are known to be very informative. They can be used to assess climatic changes and the types of flora and fauna typical of particular geological periods.

- I saw the equipment for analysing corrosion processes, selecting steel grades under various operating conditions of equipment differing by wide temperature change ranges, pressure and flow rates of oil and gas products.

- The Institute's laboratories are equipped with unique computerised equipment that enables all necessary chemical and physical research - both industrial and scientific," Sergey Vladimirovich pointed out. - I saw the equipment for analysing corrosion processes, selecting steel grades under various operating conditions of equipment, differing by a wide range of temperatures, pressures and oil and gas products` flow rates.

Professor Antsiferov shared his vivid impressions from visiting such enterprises as “Gomeloblnefteprodukt”, Belarusian Gas Processing Plant, “Belarusneft-Promservis”, “Rechitsaneft” Oil Treatment Units. The distinctive feature of all of them, he noted, is modern technical equipment, high production culture and strict compliance with safety regulations by employees.

It was in Rechitsa that Sergey Vladimirovich saw the process of drilling a new oil well for the first time in his life. Back at the International Business Academy, he was able to repeat the operation on the DrillSim-5000 simulator with the help of his Belarusian colleagues.

The host party prepared an interesting cultural programme for the TulSU representative. Elena Mikhailovna Kozyrenko, Head of the Professional Development Department of the International Business Academy, gave a fascinating tour to the sights of Gomel.

Sergey Vladimirovich saw the Gomel palace and park complex, took a boat ride on the Sozh River and visited the Gomel Regional Museum of Military Glory.

- I would like to mention the excellent organisation of the work placement! During all the days of my stay in Belarus I was accompanied by Anastasia Pavlovna Voskoley, a methodologist, who became my guide to the structural subdivisions of "Belorusneft," said Sergey Vladimirovich. - Thanks to the internship I got to know the main processes of oil production and refining, its storage and transportation. I am sure that it will play an important role in the organisation of training in the new direction. At the same time, the first stone was laid in the foundation of further cooperation between Tula State University and the International Business Academy of the Republican Unitary Enterprise "Production Association "Belorusneft".

Tatiana Krikunkova

Photographs by Sergey Antsiferov