Kazakhstan journal for oil & gas industryKazakhstan journal for oil & gas industry2707-42262957-806XKMG Engineering10889110.54859/kjogi108891UnknownProspects for obtaining base oils from bitumen-bearing rocks of the Karasyaz-Taspas depositAyapbergenovYerbolat O.<p>Cand. Sc. (Engineering), Professor</p>e.ayapbergenov@kmge.kzhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-3133-222XTurkpenbayevaBibigul Zh.<p>Doct. Sc. (Engineering), Professor</p>b.turkpenbaeva@kmge.kzhttps://orcid.org/0009-0008-3770-354XAkhmetovArslan F.<p>Doct. Sc. (Engineering), Professor</p>tngrusoil@mail.ruhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0170-4774Branch of KMG Engineering “KazNIPImunaigaz”KMG EngineeringUfa State Oil Technical University260920257382931107202503092025Copyright © 2025, Ayapbergenov Y.O., Turkpenbayeva B.Z., Akhmetov A.F.2025<p><strong>Background</strong><strong>:</strong> With light oil reserves depleting and the demand for lubricants steadily increasing, the development of alternative sources of hydrocarbon feedstock has become a pressing issue. Despite the technological complexity of processing, natural bitumens represent a promising raw material for the production of base oils, particularly in the Republic of Kazakhstan, where domestic industrial lubricant production is currently absent.</p> <p><strong>Aim</strong><strong>: </strong>To assess the possibility of obtaining base industrial and motor oils from oil fractions derived from the fuel oil of natural bitumen at the Karasaz-Taspas deposit.</p> <p><strong>Materials</strong><strong> and methods: </strong>on the study object was fuel oil obtained by atmospheric distillation of natural bitumen. Oil fractions with boiling temperature ranges of 350–400 °C and 400–460 °C were separated using vacuum distillation. Purification was carried out using bleaching clay. The physical and chemical characteristics of the fractions were determined before and after purification according to standard ASTM and GOST methods.</p> <p><strong>Results</strong><strong>: </strong>The obtained oil fractions are characterized by a high kinematic viscosity, a viscosity index of up to 110.7, and low sulfur content (0.45 wt.%). Their physical and chemical properties meet the requirements for base oils of groups I and II according to the American Petroleum Institute classification and are comparable to industrial oils of grades I-40A and I-50A. Dewaxing and the addition of additives are necessary to improve low-temperature performance.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion</strong><strong>: </strong>Natural bitumen from the Karasyaz-Taspas deposit is a promising raw material for producing high-quality base oils. The study confirms the feasibility of comprehensive processing of natural bitumen fuel oil to produce industrial and motor oils, contributing to the replenishment of the raw material base, the sustainable development of the oil industry, and the enhancement of the country’s energy security.</p>natural bitumenKarasaz-Taspasfuel oiloil fractionsbase industrial oilsviscosity indexтабиғи битумҚарасаз-Таспасмазутмай фракцияларыбазалық өнеркәсіптік майлартұтқырлық индексіприродный битумКарасязь-Таспасмазутмасляные фракциибазовые индустриальные маслаиндекс вязкости1.Satenov KG, Kalimanova DZ, Madiyeva LK, Nazhetova AA. Lubricants from Oil of The Republic of Kazakhstan. Novyye impul’sy razvitiya: voprosy nauchnykh issledovaniy. Sbornik statey IV Mezhdunarodnoy nauchno-prakticheskoy konferentsii. 2020;1:25–32. (In Russ).2.Zakiyeva RR, Petrov SM, Kayukova GP, Bashkirtseva NY. Polucheniye bazovykh masel III gruppy kachestva po klassifikatsii API iz tyazhelogo uglevodorodnogo syr’ya s primeneniyem gidrokataliticheskikh protsessov. Herald of Technological University. 2014;18:209–212. (In Russ).3.Ayapbergenov YO. Tekhnologii izvlecheniya i pererabotki neftebituminoznykh porod mestorozhdeniya Karasyaz`-Taspas [dissertation]. Ufa; 2024. Available from: www.dissercat.com/content/tekhnologii-izvlecheniya-i-pererabotki-neftebituminoznykh-porod-mestorozhdeniya-karasyaz-tas. (In Russ).4.Ayapbergenov YO, Ahmetov AF. Processing of Karasyaz-Taspas Bitumen. Transactions of Academenergo. 2019;2:25–37. doi: 10.34129/2070-4755-2019-55-2-25-37.5.Litvincev YI, Zhavoronkov D. Production of Base Oils in Russia. Bulletin of The Angarsk State Technical University. 2023;17:88–91. doi: 10.36629/2686-777X-2023-1-17-88-91. (In Russ).6.g-energy.org [Internet]. Chasto zadavayemye voprosy o smazochnykh materialakh [cited 2024 Nov 10]. Available from: g-energy.org/attachment/editor/61/86/GPN_SM_G_Energy_voprosy.pdf?_=1624511854. (In Russ).7.Patent RUS 2573573C1/ 10.12.02. Byul. №2. Dezortsev SV, Famutdinov RN, Kolbin VA, et al. Sposob polucheniya bazovykh komponentov vysokoindeksnykh neftyanykh masel. Available from: patents.google.com/patent/RU2573573C1/ru. (In Russ).8.Famutdinov RN, Dezortsev SV. Determination of raw materials quality for high index oils from the hydrocracking residue. Baskirskii Khimicheskii Zhurnal. 2013;20(4):37–39. (In Russ).