FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 1, 2008

Shaker Heights, Ohio - The Equity Engineering Group, Inc. (E²G) announced today that it has opened a branch office in Edmonton. E²G is a 70-person U.S.-based engineering services firm that is internationally recognized as a leader in developing fixed equipment engineering standards and advanced technologies that help keep oil refining and petrochemical plants safe and operating at top capacity. Boyd McKay, a Canadian citizen who lives in Sherwood Park, will represent the firm in Canada.

"Expanding into Canada is an important part of our business strategy because Canada offers significant growth opportunities, particularly in Alberta," said E²G CEO & President David Osage. "Alberta is aiming to become the premier world-wide producer of crude oil within a decade, and the facilities used to produce synthetic crude are very similar to oil refineries. We have developed many of the standards and best practices used by U.S plants today, and our technologies help them maximize equipment availability, manage risk, and control inspection costs through the equipment lifecycle."

E²G clients include the major U.S. oil and petrochemical companies who use E²G software and consulting services to manage risk at the plant level. Software products include VCESage, the benchmark design/analysis program; API RBI, the standard for Risk-Based Inspection; and VCEDamage Mechanisms, a quick reference guide for identifying problems that can cause costly equipment failure.

E²G commits significant time to developing technologies through industry committees such as the American Petroleum Institute (API), ASME, NACE and PVRC, and the Company has developed a strong reputation for leadership in developing industry standards for Risk-Based Inspection, Fitness-for-Service, and Materials/Corrosion disciplines, which are the company’s core business areas.

Mr. Osage is internationally recognized as an industry expert and leader in the development and use of FFS technology, and was the principal author of API 579. He is the chairperson for the API/ASME Joint Committee on Fitness-For-Service and was instrumental in completing the update to API 579 entitled API 579-1/ASME FFS-1 Fitness-For-Service, the standard under which most Fitness-For-Service projects are performed today. As lead investigator, Mr. Osage has also just completed a re-write of the ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code, Section VIII, Division 2, an international industry standard for pressure vessel design.

E²G employees have led in the creation of API RP 571 Damage Mechanisms in the Refining Industry, the API RBI User Group and the soon to be released second edition of the API RBI BRD 581, the new API Sulfidation corrosion document, new materials curves for API RP530 (heaters), and more.

Mr. Osage says that the company’s employees are its strongest asset. "People say Equity is a great company to be part of, so we attract the best people in the business many are internationally recognized in their area of technical expertise. Boyd McKay is an example of the high talent Equity attracts. We are delighted to have him representing us in Canada."

Mr. McKay, P.Eng. has been involved with major projects for Shell Canada Ltd. and Syncrude Canada Ltd. He has a wide range of experience, from being the lead mechanical and structural engineer at major heavy oil upgraders to working on technological innovations through U.S. industry committees.

He is a specialist in pressure vessel and piping design/analysis, as well as Fitness-For-Service assessments, and is a member of the ASME and API technical committees responsible for the development of API 579, the Fitness-For-Service standard. He also specializes in evaluating localized corrosion, creep, crack-like flaws, high temperature remaining life, and equipment distortion.

Mr. McKay has also led RBI analysis and implementation and is active in RBI technology development, developing methodologies for assessing real time threats to pressure joint integrity and real time POF analysis for pressure equipment. He has extensive experience related to the design and analysis of equipment associated with high temperature residuum hydro-cracking units and cokers, including reactors and specialty valves.

Mr. McKay holds a B.Sc. in Physics from the Memorial University of Newfoundland and a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alberta. He is also a Journeyman Boilermaker, having received his Alberta Red Seal in 1990.

The new office will be known as The Equity Engineering Group, Canada.

Contacts:
In the U.S.:
Kathy Powers, Marketing & Communications Director
1-203-938-3284

In Canada:
Boyd McKay, P.Eng.
Office: 1-780-449-4180
Fax: 1-866-775-1528
Cell: 1-780-722-3246