Aspen Technology http://www.aspentech.com has formed an alliance with BP Amoco's http:/www.bpamoco.com Lavera (France) refinery to optimize its supply chain. The five-year agreement will encompass Lavera's complete supply chain, from crude oil selection to the sale and distribution of products.

BP Amoco hopes to transform Lavera from a production-push refinery into a demand-pull refinery as a result of this alliance. If the agreement is sucessful, it might provide the basis for increased AspenTech sales in the current low-margin, refining environment.