LONDON, UK and HOUSTON, TX, Sept. 8, 2004 -- KBC Advanced Technologies plc (KBC) introduces Petro-SIM. Petro-SIM is a full-featured, graphical process simulator that combines industry-leading KBC Profimatics(R) technology and proven process models for rigorous modeling of refineries and petrochemical facilities. Petro-SIM lets process engineers optimize, analyze, and evaluate complex refinery interactions whether they are conducting multi-unit simulations, determining the impact of different feedstocks and operating targets, monitoring process performance, conducting investment studies, or updating a Linear Program (LP) model.

Petro-SIM, based on HYSYS.Refinery(R), has an easy-to-use interface that helps customers visualize how one variable change can affect a thousand others. Its fully scalable architecture lets engineers optimize a specific process unit to improve daily operations, or model an entire refinery to accurately value the impact of process changes. Petro-SIM will predict realistic yields and determine the economic potential to help customers make better, informed decisions.

"KBC is delighted to offer Petro-SIM to the marketplace," says Simon Rogers, vice president of Software, KBC. "Our goal is to maximize value for our customers by providing them with modeling technology backed by our extensive consulting knowledge base and profit improvement experience. KBC's comprehensive suite of kinetic-based reactor models and our 15 years of proven simulation experience of building over 120 refinery-wide flowsheets, sets KBC apart from our competitors."

KBC's extensive suite of industry-standard reactor models are available within Petro-SIM, including: Fluid Catalytic Cracker (FCC-SIM), Hydrocracker (HCR-SIM), Catalytic Reformer (REF-SIM), Naphtha Hydrotreater (NHTR-SIM), Diesel Hydrotreater (DHTR-SIM), VGO Hydrotreater (VGOHTR-SIM), Residue Hydrodesulfurizer (RHDS-SIM), Delayed Coker (DC-SIM), Alkylation (ALK-SIM), Visbreaking (VIS-SIM), Isomerization Modeling and Blending.

Petro-SIM allows you to build your own assay database from laboratory data or access the most comprehensive and up-to-date commercial crude assay database available, featuring more than 400 internationally traded crude oils. KBC's innovative component architecture and tunable distillation column model make this the most complete refinery simulation package available.

For a product demonstration, contact us at www.kbcat.com or visit KBC at the 2004 NPRA Plant Automation and Decision Support Conference in San Antonio, Sept. 20-21, 2004.

About KBC:

KBC Advanced Technologies plc is a leading independent consulting and technology group, delivering improvements in business performance and asset value to owners and operators in the oil refining, petrochemical, and other processing industries worldwide. KBC analyzes plant operations and business processes, and recommends changes that deliver material and measurable improvements in profitability through the use of its industry-leading software simulation technology. KBC provides strategic planning advice, petroleum and chemical price forecasting, economic studies, capital project reviews, and process engineering services to help clients find the most cost-effective way to achieve their short- and long-term objectives. Formed in 1979, KBC has its principal offices in the UK, USA, Singapore, Japan, Russia, and the Netherlands.

Petro-SIM is a trademark of KBC Advanced Technologies plc. Profimatics is a registered trademark of KBC Advanced Technologies plc. HYSYS.Refinery is a registered trademark of AEA Technology plc.

KBC Advanced Technologies plc
Business Relations 
Simon Rogers, +44 1932 242424 
srogers@kbcat.com 
or
Corporate Communications 
Tiffany Valach, +1-281-293-8200 
tvalach@kbcat.com