Processing news briefs, Mar. 15

Simulation Sciences Inc., Brea, Calif., was awarded real-time optimization projects at two processing units at Chevron Products Co.�s 260,000-b/d refinery in El Segundo, Calif. Simulation Sciences supplies commercial simulation and optimization software and related services to the petroleum, petrochemical, and industrial chemical process industries.

Shell Petrochemicals Co. Ltd. and China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC) have appointed a consortium as project management contractor for building an 800,000-tonne/year ethylene cracker in southern China's Guangdong province. Shell and CNOOC singed a 50:50 joint venture contract in October 2000. The recently named consortium is comprised of Bechtel Group Inc., Sinopec Engineering Institute, and Foster Wheeler Corp. The consortium will help manage the project until the plant starts up in 2005.

BP Amoco Corp. and Institut Francais du Petrole (IFP) announced an alliance to develop and market BP's gasoline desulfurization technology. The process is a step-out method that reduces sulfur levels to less than 10 ppm. IFP will take over development of the process, conduct pilot testing, and be the exclusive licensor for the technology. The first commercial units are expected to be fully operational before 2003.