Center for Petrochemical Energy and Technology

Skilled students need skilled leaders to help them get onto the ladder of success. At the LyondellBasell Center for Petrochemical, Energy, and Technology (CPET), we offer hands-on training for your future workforce, connecting students to industry experts like yourself. Partner with CPET today to help build the next generation of skilled leaders in your field.

In the “Energy Capital of the World,” CPET serves as the petrochemical field’s hub for training the next generation of skilled workers. We offer hands-on experiences and proprietary training across fields.

CPET’s expert leadership team, in-depth training programs, and advanced facilities help make the greater Houston area the “Energy Capital of the World.”

Meet CPET's Leaders

Our curriculum is designed in collaboration with industry leaders working at the area’s top companies. Learn more about how our expert leadership team oversees curriculum development and instruction for all petrochemical training programs.

Access Incumbent Training

How is your team sharpening their saws? Keeping your skills fresh is vital to being an innovative company. Discover how you can partner with CPET to design a customized training program to boost your workers’ skills — and stay ahead of the game.

See Our Facilities

With over 151,000 square-feet, there's a lot to see here! As the largest petrochemical training facility in the Gulf Coast Region, we have a multifunctional glass pilot plant lab, an 8,000 square-foot glycol distillation unit, 35 training labs, and modern conference space for industry training.

CPET’s position as a leader in the petrochemical, energy, and technology industries is supported by generous donations from partners in several innovative fields.

Chemical Manufacturers

LyondellBasell donated $5 million to CPET, helping create the center and develop curriculum.
INEOS Olefins and Polymers provided funds for the naming rights to an Instrumentation Lab.
Kuraray provided funds for the naming rights to CPET’s Chemistry/Physics Lab.
Lubrizol donated funds for student scholarships.

Electrical and Industrial Manufacturers

Contech sponsored an Instrumentation Lab
Eaton donated funds for CPET to create the Eaton Commons, purchase electrical equipment, and develop curriculum.
Emerson provided funds for the naming rights to CPET’s Control Room, Valve Lab, and Distributed Control System Lab.
Siemens Analytical Products and Solutions sponsored the naming rights to the Analyzer Lab.
Swagelok donated funds for naming rights to an Instrumentation Lab.

Materials and Medical Manufacturers

Dow provided funds for the naming rights to CPET’s Equipment Lab.
Olympus Corporations of the Americas sponsored naming rights to the Ultrasonic Testing Labs.
Evosite LLC donated funds for CPET to purchase its Control Role Console.
Hunter Buildings donated a blast-resistant building that CPET uses to train outside operators and house the Motor Control Center for the glycol unit.

Petrochemical Industry Leaders

Shell Oil Company donated funds for student scholarships.
nVent Thermal Management sponsored the creation of CPET’s AC/DC Lab.
Albermarle Foundation donated funds for student scholarships.
BIC Magazine and Recruiting provided funds for student seating lounges.

A 151,000-square-foot instructional complex with a separate process training unit, CPET was designed by industry, for industry. Explore some of the spaces and features of the largest petrochemical training facility in the Gulf Coast Region.

Glycol Unit

Propylene glycol, recirculating, distillation unit with 32 ft, 8 tray column
Emerson DeltaV control system
Embedded utilities: cooling water, boiler, reverse osmosis system
72 I/O Rosemount smart transmitters

Performance Learning Platform (PLP) Lab

12 Emerson PLPs in 3 custom configurations (coriolis, vortex, and magnetic meter flow measurement)
Uses DeltaV DCS
Incorporates 23 I/O points using Rosemount instruments

Control Room

6 operator stations each seating two operators
Uses Emerson DeltaV
Station for lead simulator to introduce discrepancies for operators to troubleshoot
Operator lockers in the control room plus additional lockers/showers across the hall

Simulator Lab

36 student and 3 instructor computer stations
Emerson Delta V
Simulates Glycol Unit, Glass Lab, and batch process
Potential for future company-specific simulations as desired

Glass Pilot Plant

2 tank farms feeding 4 process units
All glass/acrylic for ease of observation

Process Instrument Control Lab

Glycol unit simulator for hands-on learning of simple control loops
Incorporates Emerson DeltaV
Includes filters, electric water heater, sample station, etc.

Analyzer Lab

4 Siemens Gas Chromatography (GC) units and 2 Applied Automation GC units
Siemens continuous emission monitoring system (CEMS) (coming- rack system)
12 ph analyzers (Rosemont, Yokagawa)
Siemens O2 combustion analyzer (coming)
3 table-top Siemens GCs

Digital Control System (DCS) Lab

5 unique process control stations each accessible from 10 student computer stations running Emerson DeltaV

Process Equipment Lab (Cut-away Lab)

4 exchanger acrylic models
Valve cutaways (gate, ball, check, control)
5 pump cutaways
Misc equipment items and parts students can handle

Electrical Labs

Start with basic electrical principles and progress through residential, commercial, and industrial
Features state-of-the art Eaton equipment including:
12 Future TEK motor control training packages
12 Eaton Motor Control Centers
Eaton 5kV metal clad switchgear
Eaton Magnum DS low voltage switchgear
Eaton Pwr-R-Line switchboards
Conduit bending/routing tools & equipment

CPET in the News

Stay up to date on the latest ways CPET is helping support the petrochemical, energy, and technology industries.

Read About CPET

Environmental Health and Safety: A Commitment to Sustainable Growth

NOV 19

Covestro engineers enhance skills at San Jac's hands-on training program

NOV 4

Continuous Run Bridges Classroom Knowledge with Real-World Experience

JUL 1

Read About CPET

At CPET, our mission is to continue driving the petrochemical, energy, and technology fields forward with innovative projects and dynamic opportunities for the next generation of skilled workers. Contributions from industry leaders are key to this success. Below are funding opportunities for individuals and businesses looking to demonstrate leadership and be recognized as a CPET partner.

Endowment for Quality and Sustainability

Technology is constantly evolving, and our equipment and faculty must evolve with it. This $2 million endowment would provide:

Essential resources for equipment and technology enhancements
Upgraded equipment and training to keep pace with industry standards
Faculty and staff support and professional development

Contributing to this endowment helps ensure that CPET and its faculty and staff remain at the forefront of this ever-evolving industry.

Donate to CPET

Glycol Distillation Unit

This $2 million donation will sponsor the exterior unit designed by industry engineers to separate glycol and water. The unit includes:

A tank farm
A gas-fired boiler
A cooling tower
3-story distillation column
Pumps
Exchangers
Separation instrumentation

Built on an 8,000-square-foot layout in CPET’s Control Room, the glycol distillation unit will serve as an educational tool for students who will monitor and operate the system.

Donate to CPET

Process Simulator Lab

CPET Infrastructure

To continue creating engaging, industry-aligned learning experiences for our students, we’re constantly upgrading our systems, buildings, and labs. Opportunities to contribute to CPET’s infrastructure include:

A $500,000 sponsorship of the Craft Training Center, which offers credit and noncredit courses and industry contract training. Featuring a high-bay industrial lab and classrooms, this center offers courses in pipefitting, millwright, boiler-making, and industrial maintenance.
A $100,000-250,000 sponsorship of industry-specific skills labs, supporting process technology, electrical training, instrumentation/analyzer technology, and nondestructive testing.
A $100,000 sponsorship of the directional identities for CPET’s four major hallways.

Donate to CPET

Technology is constantly evolving, and our equipment and faculty must evolve with it. This $2 million endowment would provide:

Essential resources for equipment and technology enhancements
Upgraded equipment and training to keep pace with industry standards
Faculty and staff support and professional development

Contributing to this endowment helps ensure that CPET and its faculty and staff remain at the forefront of this ever-evolving industry.

Donate to CPET

This $2 million donation will sponsor the exterior unit designed by industry engineers to separate glycol and water. The unit includes:

A tank farm
A gas-fired boiler
A cooling tower
3-story distillation column
Pumps
Exchangers
Separation instrumentation

Built on an 8,000-square-foot layout in CPET’s Control Room, the glycol distillation unit will serve as an educational tool for students who will monitor and operate the system.

Donate to CPET

This $1 million donation will sponsor CPET’s Process Simulator Lab, which uses software to create representations of chemical, physical, and technical processes. These processes help faculty and students gain insight into unit operations including refining, distillation columns, reactors, and batch processing.

Donate to CPET

A $500,000 sponsorship of the Craft Training Center, which offers credit and noncredit courses and industry contract training. Featuring a high-bay industrial lab and classrooms, this center offers courses in pipefitting, millwright, boiler-making, and industrial maintenance.
A $100,000-250,000 sponsorship of industry-specific skills labs, supporting process technology, electrical training, instrumentation/analyzer technology, and nondestructive testing.
A $100,000 sponsorship of the directional identities for CPET’s four major hallways.

Donate to CPET

Covestro engineers enhance skills at San Jac's hands-on training program

The LyondellBasell Center for Petrochemical, Energy, and Technology at San Jacinto College hosted an instrumentation training boot camp for Covestro engineers.

CPET is phenomenally equipped with the newest and most relevant technology and equipment. The institution helps us ensure our employees' continuous development and growth, which will aid in our retention and attraction of the top talent available.”

Joe Thierry

Covestro Reliability Training Specialist

Covestro engineers spent two days in the CPET facility's Emerson Instrumentation Labs. These labs have 16 Emerson Performance Learning Platforms set up in three different ways, as well as valve and motor control labs. The engineers reviewed instrumentation devices, equipment, scaling calculations, control valves, and pressure control.