BASF FINA Petrochemicals selects AspenTech for new cracker complex

10-05-99 Aspen Technology, the leading supplier of enterprise manufacturing optimisation solutions for the process industries, announced that the BASF FINA Petrochemicals has selected AspenTech's Plantelligence suite of software and services for its new world-class steam cracker complex. The facility, currently under construction adjacent to Fina's petroleum refinery in Port Arthur, Texas, will be the industry's largest single-train steam cracker. Plantelligence software will be used to keep the facility operating at optimal performance levels, enabling the joint venture to recognise economic benefits and succeed in the highly competitive olefins market.
"BASF and FINA entered into this partnership because we believe we can build and operate a state-of-the-art naphtha cracker that will gain maximum benefits from integration with the Port Arthur refinery, deliver competitively priced ethylene and propylene to our downstream users and provide an attractive return for our shareholders," said Rudi Schnur, vice president of special projects for BASF Corporation. "We selected AspenTech's Plantelligence because it is the only fully integrated production management system that will assist us in becoming an industry leader and will enable us to sustain a high level of performance in the competitive Gulf Coast ethylene market. The system not only maximises the margins of the plant, but also tightly integrates with our corporate IT system which is a critical requirement for this joint venture."

The BASF FINA Petrochemicals cracker is being built using a range of advanced technologies for the enhanced production of olefins such as ethylene and propylene. When the project is complete, it will convert naphtha and light hydrocarbons into ethylene and propylene, which are the key raw materials used to manufacture plastics, fibres, solvents, surfactants and paints. These products are used in the housing, construction, automotive, textile and clothing, beverage containers and cosmetics industries.

"BASF FINA Petrochemicals' selection of Plantelligence endorses AspenTech's comprehensive solution for operating, managing and optimising large scale manufacturing processes," said Larry Evans, chairman and CEO of Aspen Technology, Inc. "We have already begun working with BASF FINA Petrochemicals on operator training and look forward to adding our Plantelligence Integrated Production Management system as the cracker is being built. BASF FINA Petrochemicals has launched a production facility that will serve as a model of efficiency and scale to the olefins industry."
Plantelligence software will be integrated with the new naphtha cracker plant's distributed control system (DCS), which will gather information such as temperature, pressure and flow rates from the plant. This information will be fed to BASF FINA Petrochemicals' SAP R/3 enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, which will allow engineers to make quick decisions, based on accurate information. Plantelligence software will also run off-line and on-line simulations of the plant's actual performance to model its optimal performance.
The software will then automatically and continuously compare this model with the plant's real-time performance, helping engineers and operators adjust the DCS systems to maintain the plant at peak performance. By automating plant optimisation, Plantelligence software will provide plant managers with the flexibility they need to take advantage of short-term opportunities to purchase and process various feedstocks available on the Gulf coast.

In September 1997, BASF Corporation of Mount Olive, N.J., and FINA, Inc., of Plano, Texas, formed a limited partnership to build the world's largest single-train steam cracker at the FINA refinery site in Port Arthur, Texas. BASF holds a 60 % share and FINA a 40 % share. The steam cracker will be operated by BASF; FINA will operate all related equipment outside the cracker fence line. When completed and in operation in Q1 2001, the $ 1 bn steam cracker will have a nameplate capacity of 1.83 bn pounds of ethylene and 1.9 bn pounds of propylene.

Aspen Technology is a leading supplier of software and services for the design and automation of process manufacturing plants and the optimisation of the supply chain in process industries including chemicals, petrochemicals, petroleum refining, pulp and paper, metals and minerals, electric power, pharmaceuticals, semiconductor, consumer packaged goods, and food and beverage. Process manufacturers use AspenTech's solutions to improve the way they design, operate and manage their plants and global supply chain.