Bechtel Acquires Chevron's Waste Water Treatment Technology

Purchase of WWT Expands Bechtel's Capabilities in Refining Industry

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Jan 28, 2013, 10:55 ET

HOUSTON, Jan. 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Bechtel announced today the company has purchased Chevron's Waste Water Treatment (WWT) Process, a technology that improves the efficiency of petroleum refineries. The WWT Process is a proprietary, two-stage sour water stripping process that separates ammonia and hydrogen sulfide streams from sour waters generated by a refinery's process units. The technology also allows debottlenecking of sulfur plants and can reduce the cost of new sulfur units, especially in refineries that process high nitrogen crudes.

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"This is a world-class technology that enhances our capability to deliver customers high-quality, technologically superior water and sulfur processing units more efficiently and cost effectively," said Scott Johnson, vice president and general manager of Bechtel's Onshore Oil and Gas/Downstream division. "This acquisition complements our current suite of refinery technologies and continues our long-standing practice of making sure we have the right resources to help our customers meet their needs."

The WWT Process was developed and improved by Chevron over the past 40 years. The process achieves higher purity separation and recovery of ammonia from sour water streams; reduces the size requirements of sulfur plants; and removes operating problems associated with ammonia salts in sulfur units. The stripped water is suitable for reuse or discharge through downstream treating facilities. The high purity hydrogen sulfide is a premium feed to conventional sulfur recovery units or sulfuric acid plants. And the ammonia may be recovered for commercial sale, internal use, or separately incinerated.

The WWT Process technology is managed by Bechtel Hydrocarbon Technology Solutions, Inc. (BHTS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Bechtel that provides technology licensing and process consulting services to the oil and gas industry. A leader in the refining, chemical, and industrial market, Bechtel has built more than 375 refining and chemical projects around the world.

About Bechtel:
Bechtel is among the most respected engineering, project management, and construction companies in the world. We stand apart for our ability to get the job done right—no matter how big, how complex, or how remote. Bechtel operates through five global business units that specialize in civil infrastructure; power generation, communications, and transmission; mining and metals; oil, gas, and chemicals; and government services. Since its founding in 1898, Bechtel has worked on more than 22,000 projects in 140 countries on all seven continents. Today, our 53,000 employees team with customers, partners, and suppliers on diverse projects in nearly 50 countries. For more information about Bechtel visit www.bechtel.com

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SOURCE Bechtel