In 2006, Refining launched a plan to install simulators in refineries.

Patrick Vedrine, DHC¹ Commissioning Manager at the Normandy Refinery

“A purpose-designed process simulator—an exact replica of the future control desk—was developed for the DHC project at the Normandy refinery. It gave the operating teams the opportunity to practice starting up the units, in a virtual but very realistic setting, before construction of the facilities was completed.
The experience produced many benefits. The team members got to know each other for the first time in an operational situation and the trust that is so essential to a shift team was established.
The startup procedures were fully tested and some were improved. The operators familiarized themselves with the operating system, and the incident simulation function helped them develop the appropriate automatic responses, while also validating certain emergency strategies. This means that all of the employees involved in startup operations were able to get a better idea of the roles they would be playing.
By the time the training program ended, the shift supervisors were confident that they and their teams had everything they needed to successfully start up the facilities, this time for real.”

¹Distillate hydrocrackers (DHC) convert heavy petroleum fractions into ultra-low-sulfur diesel and jet fuel. The DHC at the Normandy refinery was commissioned at end-2006.