Simulators will help to ensure safe and efficient initial plant operation, and will support performance improvement during later operations.
Aspen Technology has begun the implementation of a project to supply operator-training simulators for a new petrochemical complex being built by Jubail United Petrochemical Company (United) in Saudi Arabia. The simulators will help to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the plants during commissioning and start-up, and will also support performance improvement strategies during later operations.
United is a Saudi Basic Industries Company (SABIC) affiliate. Its petrochemical complex is scheduled to come on stream in the second half of 2004, with an annual production capacity of one million tons of ethylene, 575 000 tons of ethylene glycol, and 150 000 tons of linear alpha olefins (LAO).
The scope of the project awarded to AspenTech includes the delivery of virtual plant simulators (VPS) for the ethylene cracker and the ethylene glycol plant. The simulators provide an accurate dynamic model of the plants that incorporates detailed process characteristics and models provided by process technology licensors. This enables the VPS models to be used as the basis for both initial operator training and subsequent refresher training and operations improvement.
"AspenTech's approach of utilising comprehensive, rigorous process models at the heart of its simulators will ensure United can gain substantial returns from its investment in this technology," said Abdullah Al-Buainian the United general manager of operation. "This approach delivers significantly greater value during the whole lifecycle of the plant than more basic simulators that can only be used for operator training prior to plant start-up."
United selected AspenTech after detailed analysis of AspenTech's technology, experience and recent track record in delivering plant simulators. The analysis highlighted the higher quality and accuracy of its technical solution, the sustained long-term value that its solutions are able to provide and AspenTech's capability to assign an experienced project team including local support in the Middle East post delivery.
"AspenTech has a proven track record in delivering high-value simulation solutions, and this contract demonstrates our commitment to further expand our business activities in the Middle East," said Ian Huntly, managing director of AspenTech Africa. "By selecting AspenTech's technology for this project, United will be able to realise maximum benefits from the solution throughout the lifecycle of the plant."
For more information contact Amanda Strauss, AspenTech Africa, 011 258 8771, [email protected], www.aspentech.com
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