Hyperion Systems Engineering - Hyperion Delivers Operator Training Simulator to Luberef, Yanbu, Saudi Arabia

The scope of Hyperion’s solution included:

Development of high fidelity process models suitable for describing the dynamic behavior of the plant. These included models for the vacuum distillation (VDU), propane de-asphalting (PDA), furfural extraction (FEU), Exxon-Mobil’s catalytic de-waxing (MLDW), the hydrogen and utilities/offsites units.
Accurate simulation of the plant’s emergency shutdown system.
Instructor and field-operator stations, separate from the engineering station.
Integrating the accurate process models with a Yokogawa CENTUM CS3000 distributed control system (DCS), while updating the graphics and controls used in the plant to a newer version.
Turnkey responsibility for hardware and software procurement.
Documentation and end-user training.

The OTS system is primarily used for training the Yanbu refinery operators on abnormal situations and for operator certification. Throughout the plant life, it will be used for engineering improvements and validation of new control strategies. After the successful site acceptance test in Yanbu, the system is being used for early training of Jeddah plant operators.

The achievements of the project have been consistent with the goals agreed by Dr Symeon Kassianides, (Hyperion Chairman and CEO) and Mr Omar S Bazuhair (Luberef President and CEO) at the kick off meeting held in Bahrain in March 2006.

Mansour Al Dighaithir, Central Engineering Manager at Luberef, said: “Our choice to work with Hyperion has been excellent. We have received a state-of-the-art simulator, based on the latest commercially available technology, while the project was delivered as planed and within budget. We are most impressed with the abilities of the Hyperion team and their flexibility to ensure the project was successful.”

Dean Jones, Vice President for Modeling and Simulation Solutions at Hyperion, said: “Once more we have demonstrated our ability to work together with world-class customers and deliver high value turnkey solutions. We will continue using our expertise in delivering full-scope operating training simulators to support the profitability of our clients and ensuring our continuous growth. Being independent from DCS and process licensing technology companies allows us to provide solutions that take advantage of the best combination of available technologies and expedite project execution”.

About Operator Training Systems
Operator Training Simulators are detailed, high fidelity, real-time simulation systems that are custom-built to match the dynamic behavior of single or multiple plant units and their associated control systems. An Operator Training System may be used throughout the plant lifecycle to train operating crews, resulting in fewer operating errors and quicker and safer startups and shutdowns, improve plant reliability due to improved response to abnormal situations, optimize throughput and product quality, and provide the basis for evaluation of control strategies.

About Luberef
Saudi Aramco Lubricating Oil Refining Company (LUBEREF) is a limited liability company established in 1978 under the rules and regulations of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Luberef is a joint venture between Saudi ArabianOil Company (Saudi Aramco) with 70% share and ExxonMobil with 30% share. Luberef is the only producer of Lubricating Base Oils in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It owns and operates two lube oil refineries, one of which (LUBEREF I) is located in the city of Jeddah and the other (LUBEREF II) in the industrial city of Yanbu on the west coast of Saudi Arabia, 350 KM north of Jeddah. Luberef’s total base oil production is designed at 550,000 MT per year from both refineries, but over the years has exceeded the design by 10% annually.

About Hyperion
Hyperion is the leading independent supplier of OTS solutions to the process industries.

Hyperion Systems Engineering Ltd. provides world-class professional consulting services and solutions in the areas of Supply Chain Management, Advanced Planning and Scheduling, Dynamic Simulation and Modeling, Advanced Process Control & Optimization and Plant Information Management. Hyperion enables Process Manufacturing companies to increase efficiency and profitability.

With headquarters in Cyprus and operating subsidiaries in the UK, Russia, Greece, India and Bahrain, Hyperion employs over 150 engineering professionals who have implemented over 200 projects worldwide. Hyperion has one of the world’s most experienced teams of resource in the field of Dynamic Simulation and Operator Training, with in excess of 50 simulation and modeling professionals who have implemented OTS projects for companies such as BP, Sasol, Motor Oil Hellas, Exxon, Texaco, Chevron, Shell, Saudi Aramco, Ferrostaal, in the Oil & Gas, Petro-Chemical, Chemical and Power generation industries.

Hyperion is certified to the ISO 9001:2000 standard, by EuroCert, for the design, development and implementation of Modelling and Simulation Solutions. For more information, visit: www.hyperion.com.cy/EN/services/mass/index.html

For further information please contact:

Dr. Vassilis Harismiadis
Hyperion Systems Engineering SA – Modelling & Simulation Solutions
Tel: +30 210 8704900
Fax: +30 210 6433368
E-mail: v.harismiadis@hyperionsystems.gr
Web: www.hyperion.com.cy