ZUG, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 23, 2012-- Foster Wheeler AG (Nasdaq: FWLT) announced today that a subsidiary of its Global Engineering and Construction Group has been awarded a contract by Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. (Petrobras) for a world-scale grassroots gas-to-chemicals complex in Linhares, Espirito Santo State, southeast Brazil, called Complexo Gás-Químico UFN-IV. Foster Wheeler will provide basic engineering design (BED), front-end engineering design (FEED), and technical assistance and training during the engineering, procurement, construction (EPC) phase through to successful completion of the plant performances tests.

The Foster Wheeler contract value was not disclosed. The BED and FEED will be included in the company's third-quarter 2012 bookings. The provision of technical assistance and training will be booked at a later date, after the FEED is complete, when Petrobras advises that it is proceeding with the EPC phase of the project.

Foster Wheeler will act as integrator for the entire complex, managing the overall BED and FEED, including managing the process licensors and Brazilian subcontractors. The BED/FEED phase is scheduled for completion at the end of 2013.

The complex is expected to produce in excess of one million tonnes per annum (TPA) of ammonia and urea fertilizers, methanol, acetic acid, plus formic acid and melamine, helping to reduce Brazil's imports of these products.

"Our proven experience in executing large, complex integrated chemicals projects and our ability to support Petrobras through to start-up of this world-scale facility were key to our success in winning this important contract," said Umberto della Sala, Chief Operating Officer, Foster Wheeler AG.

Houston, Texas — August 8, 2012 — KBR (NYSE:KBR) and Shell Global Solutions International B.V. (NYSE: RDS.A) today announced the expansion of their hydroprocessing technology alliance. In addition to hydrocracking and hydrotreating, KBR will also market, sell and provide technology and design packages for Shell Global Solutions deep-flash, high-vacuum unit distillation and thermal conversion technologies worldwide.

Refinery operators want to improve their distillation performance to optimize their assets, minimize their expenditure and capital investment, and debottleneck their operations. Refiners can use deep cut vacuum distillation to maximize the recovery of distillate from residue. Also, with the falling demand for residue fuel oil, refiners can use thermal conversion technologies to convert the bottom barrel to higher value products.

“The expansion of the alliance underscores our success to date and allows us to deliver a much broader refinery scope of value-focused technology,” said John Derbyshire, President, KBR Technology. “The addition of these technologies enables us to better address refiners’ long-term needs for margin improvement, while continuing to meet environmental requirements.”

“Our early successes demonstrate that refiners value the synergies between KBR’s technology and engineering experience and Shell’s operating and catalyst experience,” said Süleyman Özmen, Vice President, Refining and Chemical Licensing, Shell Global Solutions International B.V. ”The expansion of our alliance illustrates our long-term commitment to providing high quality, innovative technology to the refining industry.”

Houston, Texas — August 20, 2012 — KBR (NYSE: KBR) announced today it has been awarded a project management services contract for construction of the Diamantina Power Station, a 242 MW gas-fired power station in northwest Queensland, Australia. Located about four miles (six kilometers) from the mining community of Mt. Isa, the station will provide power to Xstrata’s MIM copper mine and will be a secure long-term energy supplier to the region.

KBR’s scope of services includes project management, safety, cost, schedule and site construction oversight of the power station’s engineering, procurement and construction contractors. Features of the combined-cycle gas turbine power station include low emissions and a high level of net efficiency for a plant of this nature.

The client, DPS Co., a 50-50 joint venture between APA Group and AGL Energy Limited, predicts a total power station cost of about AU$500 million, with construction to be completed by mid-2014.

Houston, Texas — August 6, 2012 — KBR (NYSE: KBR) announced today that it has been awarded a FEED contract to perform work for the topsides and hull associated with a new-build, double-sided, single-bottom hull Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel. The FPSO will be located offshore Angola and FEED is scheduled to start immediately, with a duration of 12 months.

KBR’s scope covers the permanently moored FPSO using a spread mooring system. The vessel will be capable of storing a minimum of 1MM BBLS and housing 130 persons on board. The topsides will utilize a single train designed to process 80,000 barrels of oil per day and 90 million standard cubic feet per day at an export pressure of 3,500 psi. The water injection facilities will be designed to inject up to 130,000 barrels of water per day.

Services for the project will be based out of KBR’s offices in Houston, Gothenburg and Luanda. KBR’s Luanda office will play a major role in supplying local employee content for the project.