AVEVA Makes History with CleanTech Refinery Project in the US

AVEVA partners with Meridian Energy Group Inc. to develop a digital twin for the first fully transformed refinery built in the U.S. since 1976 and the first advanced, modern greenfield refinery ever built in the United States.

This cooperation represents an important milestone in the development of technological innovation and environmental protection in the refining industry.

Meridian selected AVEVA’s CONNECT industrial analytics platform and a range of EPC 4.0 solutions to create a single, unified, data-centric approach to the design and execution of the new Davis Refinery project.

Meridian is currently building the Davis refinery in the Bakken oil field outside Belfield, North Dakota, next to major trucking and rail corridors. This distributed business model is sleeker, faster and more efficient than the centralized mega-refinery model that is common today.

The Davis Refinery was approved for synthetic secondary source status by the North Dakota Department of Health and Air Quality (NDDEQ) following an extensive, 18-month review in 2018.

The construction permit (PTC) confirmed all previous claims made by Meridian when the company took on the challenge of “cleaning up” the refining industry.

In April, Meridian announced a breakthrough in the design and configuration of its Davis refinery, where greenhouse gas emissions are fully offset by co-processing renewable bio-based feedstocks.

As a result, the facility has zero net Scope 1 and 2 carbon dioxide emissions, a world first for an oil refinery. Meridian also plans to build additional refineries in Texas and Oklahoma.

With AVEVA’s EPC 4.0 solutions, engineering data is no longer siloed and you gain real-time visibility from design and engineering through procurement and construction, reducing the time to final design handover and operational readiness.

Rob McGreevy, Chief Product Officer at AVEVA, said: “I am excited about our partnership with Meridian, which we see as a unique opportunity to showcase our proven software solutions.

“This project aims to design one of the most modern and environmentally friendly refineries in the world. Our goal is not only to meet industry standards but also to support the refinery’s goal of achieving net zero emissions.”

A cloud-based, data-centric strategy serves as a unified platform where all engineering disciplines and stakeholders come together. By seamlessly integrating different engineering tools, it provides an integrated viewpoint that increases project efficiency and visibility from start to finish.

This collaborative approach not only facilitates early risk identification and proactive mitigation, but also empowers stakeholders to gradually transition authority.

This enables them to effectively address and prevent common CapEx pitfalls that traditional operating facilities often face, ultimately optimizing project outcomes and operational success.

Mark Fonda, Chief Technology Officer at Meridian, says: “AVEVA provided the optimal framework to develop our strategic plan to transition the refining industry to a lower carbon economy using both renewable and traditional feedstocks.

“This project represents a quantum leap in technology implementation that is only possible as a greenfield project with an eye on the future. Digital technology is the means by which all aspects of the project are developed and implemented, creating an environment of collaboration and synergy for all disciplines throughout the project.”

Jay Nocker, vice president of engineering services at Meridian, added, “AVEVA’s digital data management tools will enable Meridian to outpace the typical 30-60-90% engineering information release cycle.

“This enables us to start configuring and validating key operational technology (OT) systems with our strategic partners early and fully leverage the benefits of a unified information architecture and the gradual transition of digital assets.”