Midland, MI, April 28, 2003 -- The Dow Chemical Company has launched a gas treating pilot plant in Freeport, TX, to help operating companies minimize the risk involved in altering gas plant operations. The new facility enables companies to preview the impact of a potential system change before full-scale implementation in their own plants, creating a direct point of interaction between Dow and its customers.

"Dow's investment in the pilot plant reinforces our commitment to providing the best possible technology, service and recommendations to our customers," said David Burns, business manager for Dow Gas Treating Products and Services. "What it offers to the industry, which is unique, is a technologically advanced, low risk system to address specific problems in the gas treating market."

To demonstrate the effects of an operational change on a customer facility, the Dow pilot plant mimics the performance of large-scale commercial gas treating equipment, particularly carbon dioxide absorbers and strippers. After collecting equipment and operating data from a customer's facility, the pilot plant is set up to simulate the customer's performance accurately. When the customer is confident the unit is simulating current operations, the modifications to equipment or solvent are made in the pilot plant and the results are displayed clearly. Depending on customer needs, projects can be completed in a matter of weeks.

"This equipment supplements our simulation capability. We can go into the pilot plant and measure the effect of process or solvent changes on current operations," explained Craig Schubert, research leader for Dow.

At the Freeport pilot plant, Dow has invested in the most modern data acquisition equipment and control systems. The pilot plant's data acquisition capabilities allow precise and extensive measurements of factors such as gas treating capacity, product quality, circulation requirements and energy costs. The customer has the flexibility to identify the operating conditions that are most important to its business. The pilot plant can then provide detailed reports of how the modification has affected those specific parameters. Customers are also able to view the tests as they occur, either on site or from a remote location. To observe the process from a remote location, customers connect to the pilot plant control room through a secure line, only accessible from a Dow computer connected to the Dow Intranet.

"Reducing the risk and quantifying the benefits associated with change is a win for our customers and a win for Dow," added Schubert. "We look forward to helping our customers capture the rewards associated with innovation and more efficient operations