BP Amoco and AEA Technology - Hyprotech Forge Global Technology Alliance; BP Amoco Sets Industry Trend with Commitment to 'Single Model' Enterprise Engineering Approach.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

HARWELL, United Kingdom--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 12, 2000

BP Amoco plc and AEA Technology - Hyprotech today announced the formation of a multi-million dollar Business and Technology Alliance. Hyprotech Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of AEA Technology plc, is the leading supplier of engineering software to the oil, petrochemical, pharmaceutical and fine chemicals industries. This long-term initiative will help BP Amoco achieve its enterprise technology goals of maximised efficiency and profitability, while emphasizing business processes by which AEA Technology software and services can add value at all levels.

Andrew McKenzie, Group Vice President of Technology for the BP Amoco group, said: "Capitalizing on past achievements and identifying the barriers and gaps to our joint vision, BP Amoco and Hyprotech have developed this Alliance. Since we first sat down with Hyprotech twelve months ago, BP Amoco has developed a five-year vision to increase the value that simulation technology has created in the company over the past 30 years. Gordon Hutchionson, Head of Engineering at BP Amoco agreed: "We believe the Alliance Management Team will succeed in implementing a more efficient use of simulation technology in existing and grass root plants, while continuing to reduce plant production costs, increase plant safety, and contribute to BP Amoco's on-going commitment to environmental improvement."

Bryn Stenhouse, Operational Excellence Upstream Technology Champion, added, "In the Upstream business, BP Amoco's vision is for Simulation and Optimisation to contribute measurably to performance improvement at all stages of an asset's lifecycle, from conceptual design through steady production to eventual decommissioning. A strong modelling culture is one of the elements that will deliver the increased production efficiency and environmental performance that the business demands. We look forward to working with Hyprotech in achieving this vision."

From the perspective of the refining business, Mike Knight, Supply Chain Technology Consultant for BP Amoco Oil adds: "Our focus is on providing refinery engineers with tools to improve the performance of existing plants and in developing strategies for producing new, environmentally-friendly fuels. Hyprotech's open technology and the relationship we have established with them will promote widespread use of simulation models and the knowledge embodied in them, maintaining our competitive edge in the refining business."

Mike Griffiths, Engineering Technology Manager for BP Amoco Chemicals, sees "the faster take up and wider application of leading technology being a key element in achieving the vision for our Manufacturing Excellence programme. Striving to stay ahead of the competition requires that we get even greater value from investments, with improved performance requiring the application of best practices in all our operations. Working closely with suppliers is a requirement to leverage our productivity, competitiveness and growth in activity."

Wayne Sim, Executive Vice President and a co-founder of Hyprotech, said: "Hyprotech's Alliance with BP Amoco moves beyond typical corporate adoption of technology to an enhanced level of commitment from both companies to improve process practices and competitive positions."

      Highlights of the Alliance are:

      --  An Engineers' Desktop with open access to the complete AEA
        Technology Engineering Software's solution portfolio,
        including unlimited use of HYSYS.Process as the platform to
        deliver BP Amoco's lifecycle vision.

      --  A dedicated services organisation, including technical
        support, training coordination and training course content
        preparation, as well as privileged access to simulation
        software development and project services.

      --  Creation of a joint Alliance Management Team, which will
        implement the next phase of the Alliance covering aspects such
        as: integration of BP Amoco's legacy software into the HYSYS
        lifecycle platform, the definition of technology business
        cases in the areas of CO2 emissions reduction, H2O emissions
        reduction, enterprise-wide refinery models for supply chain
        modeling and optimisation.

Another significant feature of the Alliance is the definition of a general simulation strategy document, which will ensure the deployment of the "single model" lifecycle vision from Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) to Plant Commissioning and Operations Optimisation. BP Amoco will use this simulation strategy document in new plant designs and revamps.

Dick Hill, Vice President of Automation for ARC Advisory Group, believes that "by working with AEA Technology-Hyprotech, BP Amoco has an excellent opportunity to significantly improve its workflow across the enterprise. Multiple work groups and project teams throughout BP Amoco will be able to share models as they are developed and, most importantly, build on the knowledge they bring about design, operation and environment." ARC Advisory Group (www.arcweb.com) is a leading international management consulting firm, providing strategic planning and technology assessment services to major manufacturing and logistics companies, and associated suppliers of technology and services.

About BP Amoco

BP Amoco plc is one of the world's largest petroleum and petrochemicals groups. Its main activities are exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas; refining, marketing, supply and transportation; and manufacturing and marketing of petrochemicals. It has a growing activity in gas and power and in solar power generation. BP Amoco has well-established operations in Europe, North and South America, Australasia and Africa. For more in-depth information, go to: www.bpamoco.com.

About AEA Technology and Hyprotech Ltd.

AEA Technology Engineering Software is a leading supplier of engineering solutions for the process and mechanical manufacturing industries. As part of AEA Technology plc (LSE:AAT), the business operates from a network of 20 offices worldwide, with operations in Canada, USA, Germany, Spain, France and Japan. Its range of software products includes process simulation (HYSYS), chemical and pharmaceutical process design (BaSYS), computational fluid dynamics (CFX), separation process design (SPS) heat transfer (HTFS), plant lifecycle data management (AXSYS), operator training as well as fatigue and lifetime prediction solutions (nCode). The business aims to provide an unequalled software environment for the management of knowledge and design throughout the engineering and operational lifecycle within its expanding customer base.

Hyprotech Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of AEA Technology, is a leading supplier of engineering knowledge deployment solutions to the process industries, focused on improving profitability and operating performance throughout the enterprise lifecycle. With powerful capabilities to address design, automation, optimization and training, Hyprotech serves more than 1500 companies in over 80 countries. For information about AEA Technology Engineering Software and Hyprotech, contact Marie Telepneff at 510/748-4709, [e-mail] or visit their website at www.software.aeat.com.

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