Press Release

PR 6020

WORLD ROLLOUT FOR YOKOGAWA MAREX EXASPOT PLANT OPTIMIZER

Global software developer and integrator Yokogawa Marex of Cowes UK today announces the worldwide rollout of its uniquely powerful ExaspotTM open standards real time plant optimization system. Based on the state-of-the-art Shell Process Optimization Technologies (SPOT) program suite for closed-loop process optimization, Exaspot combines real time plant data with economic objectives to replicate and optimize plant operations.

Optimization is applied to a functional unit, typically a high-value section of a large plant or refinery, where small changes to operational conditions can result in large savings. The purpose of Exaspot is to maximise unit margins within operational, technological and economic constraints. By measuring optimizer performance in terms of economic value, users are provided with the profit generated for each unit run, with the aim of maximising economic performance -all with perfect traceability.

Exaspot development

Exaspot is a triparty development utilising the unique skills and expertise of Yokogawa Marex, Shell Petroleum and Shell Global Solutions International (SGSI). Perfected over an 18-month development period, Exaspot provides configuration tools and application programs to merge all software seamlessly. Exaspot software packages include:

Yokogawa Marex Exaquantum OPC global industry standard data historian
Shell PROMOTE process simulator incorporating Shell's refinery database and conversion models which is used for rigorous process modelling
Data reconciliation engine (DATACON)

All optimizer run-based data is available for analysis through online analytical processing (OLAP). Client reporting offers standard multi-dimensional views of optimizer data. Users can create their own views and store them into a shared library.

Key features

Exaspot's Process Control Systems -interface enables OPC compliant communication with process control systems (PCS) offering Data Access (OPC DA2.5a) text file-based communication (ASCII CSV) is also supported.

In addition, the following features are offered: spreadsheet based configuration tool creating Exaspot and relational database (RDB) configuration settings including definition of optimizer tags and their related functionality; steady state analysis; unit configuration check analysis; external system status analysis; automatic reconciliation; optimizer/operator interfacing and setpoint download; storage of optimization data for OLAP analysis; web reporting; rule based generation of mass balance, economic balance and laboratory reports; ability of Exaspot applications to work offline; and automatic plant model simulation (APMS).

APMS is a derived functionality from the Shell PROMOTE process simulator models being run to produce three process business cases: the 'Rating' case calculates process parameters such as heat transfer coefficients. The 'Base' case represents the model in the predictive mode where the control strategy is included resulting in the process biases being calculated.

The 'Optimization' case is similar to the base case but with the inclusion of economic optimization by varying independent variables. The output of this case is a set of independents or setpoint values for multivariable controls and/or DCS applications.

Exaspot around the world

Exaspot has already proved its business case in large installations around the world. In Singapore at Shell Bukum, Exaspot is performing as a stand-alone maximizer in a large refinery. In Thailand, Shell and Yokogawa have jointly installed an Exaspot facility at Thai Aromatics, and at Petit Couronne in France, Shell Global Solutions International (SGSI) has installed an Exaspot suite in a large industrial plant, where the administration and server hosting and location services are provided by SGSI at a remote location, in this case Holland. Shell intends to expand this capability further, anticipating worldwide site data being held and analysed at a single location in Holland.

The flexibility of the product is demonstrated by these varied installations; the core Yokogawa Marex product at the heart of Exaspot, its world recognised Exaquantum plant information management system (PIMS), has been installed in over 200 plants worldwide. Exaquantum is the essential cornerstone plant information function in Yokogawa's Visa plant optimization product and is the core technology in the Yokogawa Enterprise Technology Solutions (ETS) concept.

Nigel Bowden, Yokogawa Marex Managing Director, adds: "Exaspot is an excellent example of industrial cooperation. Our leading software specialism, allied to the real time data from Shell and the hydrocarbon integration flair of SGSI, have given us an outstanding product that will take us, and the processing industry, well into the millennium. Exaspot is a new century product: not just process, not just control, it cuts right to the heart of the business. Not just efficiency, not just economy, but best added value. Best profit. "

1. Yokogawa Marex is a world leader in information management systems for process industries. The company provides a systems development and integration capability specializing in integrated information systems for process industries throughout the world.

2. The Yokogawa Exaquantum Plant Information Management System (PIMS) delivers benefits for plant operators in many process industries in most parts of the world. Yokogawa PIMS integrate data from many systems in a plant and produce high value business information for use by decision makers at all levels of the enterprise. Yokogawa PIMS automatically integrate data from process control systems, including Distributed Control Systems (DCS) and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), with other data from quality, maintenance, laboratory, planning, scheduling, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and many other systems. Yokogawa PIMS convert Plant Data into Business Information.

3. The Yokogawa software being installed today is already in use in chemicals, food, petrochemicals,
oil & gas, pharmaceuticals, power generation and general manufacturing throughout the world, providing monitoring, management, optimization modeling and control of many diverse, dynamic, and hazardous processes.

4. Issued on behalf of: Thomas Cowley, Yokogawa Marex Ltd, Marex House, 34 Medina Rd, Cowes, Isle of Wight, UK, PO31 7DA. Tel: +44 (0)1983 296011. Fax: +44 (0)1983 291776 e-mail: Thomas.Cowley@ymx.yokogawa.com

5. Yokogawa Marex web site: www.ymx.yokogawa.com

6. Issued by John Ockenden, John Ockenden international public relations, Whindrum House, Methven, Perth PH1 3QU. +44 (0)7710 391 054.
e-mail: john@jockenden.freeserve.co.uk

7. Photographs (both high res electronic and print) and system/network graphics are available to accompany this story. Please contact John Ockenden.

December 03