Gazprom Neft Introduces its own Biotechnology for Oil Production
The Gazprom Neft Science and Technology Center has developed a new bacterial strain that produces universal xanthan gum, a valuable raw material for the oil, food and cosmetic industries. The microorganism is capable of producing from two to four times more xanthan gum than previously known bacteria, which opens up prospects for the creation of the first industrial production of xanthan gum in Russia. According to the company’s specialists, the product obtained from the new strain will be 10% cheaper than imported analogues.
Xanthan gum is a safe natural compound that is in demand in many industries. In oil production, this biopolymer is an indispensable component of drilling fluids. Xanthan gum is also used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food. In Russia, xanthan is not yet produced for industry; its use is entirely dependent on supplies from abroad.
In 2019, Gazprom Neft launched a project to produce domestic xanthan gum. The first step towards import substitution was the creation of a new strain of xanthan-producing bacteria. Employees of the Gazprom Neft Science and Technology Center, together with Russian biotechnology scientists, have developed the most highly productive of the known strains. Under standard conditions, the new bacterium Xanthomonas fuscans GBigcsan-615 provides xanthan yield of 18.2 g / l, and when cultivated on improved nutrient media – 24.2 g / l and 29.5 g / l. This is 2-4 times more than previously known bacteria produce.
The development is recognized by the scientific community: the strain is included in the All-Russian collection of industrial microorganisms (VKPM), and the Gazprom Neft Science and Technology Center received patents for the invention. The next stage of the project is the pilot production of domestic xanthan gum. It is expected that the first drilling fluids based on it will be tested at Gazprom Neft in the fall of 2021.
