2023 AFPM Summit

We each have a responsibility to act with integrity and uphold the highest standards in all that we do. In this interactive session we will provide you with a tool to use when faced with an ethical decision as well as provide real world scenarios to practice making ethical decisions.

Sponsored by W.R. Grace & Co

Hosted by Bryce Hansard, Flint Hills Resources, LLC and
Nevin Whalley, Axens North America

Meet and network with other Emerging Leaders and industry leadership at the upper level of the Glass Cactus. We will kick the reception off with an ice breaker then hear from industry leadership and AFPM’s Committee members.

Welcome
Chet Thompson, President and CEO, AFPM


Presentation of the Lifetime Service Award
Recognizing two leaders for the outstanding
contributions they’ve made to AFPM and the
industries they represent.
Recipients: Tim Olsen, Emerson Automation Solutions and Fritz Kin, Marathon Petroleum Corporation


Keynotes:
Harnessing the Power of AI for Exponential Business Growth
Vivek Wadhwa


DEI Leadership Motivational Speaker
Jeffery Downs


Explore the Hub

AFPM Lounge, Dallas 1: Fire Heater VR Demonstration

Drones are a more technologically efficient way to do certain kinds of inspections (electrical, tanks, piperacks, etc.). It is also safer because the technology is increasingly better able to keep people from being exposed to inspection related dangers. This session will highlight:

• What it takes to start a drone program at your facility: the people, process and technology


• Drone program considerations


• What a hybrid approach looks like

Facilitator: Bill Clark, Phillips 66

Speakers:
Srinivasan 'Cheenu' Vanchinathan, Phillips 66

Technology Providers
Jonah Ballow, Innovative Plant Consulting
Justin Hill, Innovative Plant Consulting

This session will share an incident from the summer of 2022 where an RV lifted on a spent acid rail car. Key topics will include the conditions that led to the relief, the response to mitigate the release, and the causal understanding of why the relief occurred. Finally, the discussion will focus on considerations for preventing future similar releases.

Facilitator: Ray Chafin, Pemex Deer Park

Speakers:
Hi Chen, Pemex Deer Park
Ahram Yoon, Pemex Deer Park

Sponsored by Ketjen Corporation

Speaker:
Jaap Bergwerff, Ketjen Corporation

The industrial sector is going through digital transformation. ExxonMobil's Digital Reality Ecosystem, aka the Industrial Metaverse holds huge benefits with its ability to visualize their sites and offer seamless immersive and connected experiences across their fleet of assets. As this is an emerging technology space, there are diverse sets technologies that will need to be curated as the Industrial Metaverse is still in infancy stage. This session will explore existing and potential industrial use cases of the metaverse, augmented/mixed reality to illustrate the various functions, applications, and benefits of the technology. Participants will:

• Gain an understanding of how ExxonMobil is moving to a visual way of working utilizing innovations and new technologies


• Learn about the components of the ecosystem


• Appreciate the value of data interoperability

Facilitator:
Adi Punuru, ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company

Speakers:
Athicha 'M' Dhanormchitphong, ExxonMobil Global Services Company
Kyle Daughtry, ExxonMobil Global Services Company

The Energy Transition to a lower carbon future will play a significant role in the Refining Industry.  How our industry – in the US and around the world - will adapt to changing market conditions going forward is evolving.  However, the US will be well positioned to take advantage of opportunities.  This session will highlight challenges and concerns that will impact our Refining outlook.

Facilitator: Susan Grissom, AFPM

Speakers:
John Auers, RBN energy
Alan Gelder, Wood Mackenzie
Debnil Chowdhury, S&P Global

First Time Attendee Lounge, the HUB: Who is AFPM? Join us!

A significant component in winning the energy transition challenge comes down to managing and reducing the emissions from manufacturing activities of the energy-intensive industries. In most of the facilities in oil & gas production, refining and petrochemical industries, flare is used to burn off waste gases, and typically a manual work process is adopted to ensure complete and smokeless combustion. The work process requires the facility operators to monitor camera feed that shows real-time status of flare operations and make control changes on the DCS to optimize combustion ensuring smokeless flaring.
To automate this manual work process and further enhance operator efficiency and environmental performance in flare operations, we present in this work an end-to-end flare smoke detection, alerting and DCS control solution that leverages existing flare CCTV cameras used at many facilities. The core of this solution is a deep-learning computer vision model that we have developed leveraging an extensive and diverse data set and the model has shown fit-for-use performance in wide-ranging conditions.
We will present results of this application implemented in the plant to further demonstrate the end-to-end solution and its positive impact on sustainable operations.

Facilitator: Adi Punuru, ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company

Speaker:
Ye Hu, ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company

In 2021, hydrofluoric acid vapors were detected by the safety instrumented subsystem (SIS) line of sight laser detection system, which activated both the rapid acid dump system and the fire suppression/unit deluge system. The source of the leak was determined to be the bypass line around the isobutane recycle cooler. Topics discussed: Residual Elements, CMLs for high RE, PMI for high RE, low flow and process deadleg identification.

Speaker:
Mark Geisenhoff, Flint Hills Resource

Several new technologies have been developed to produce renewable fuels and petrochemical products.  However, monetization of these new renewable streams is important to justify commercialization and utilization.  This session will highlight IRA and ISCC+ incentives for monetization.

Facilitator: Jeff Sexton, Marathon Petroleum Corporation

Speakers:
Bill Kessom, GreenStar BCS
Soheil Razjouyan, GreenStar BCS

Sponsored by Axens North America

Speakers:
Dominic Debonis, Axens North America
Mukund Yallambalse, Axens North America

First Time Attendee Lounge, the HUB: Get involved!
Committee Structure & Participation

In the context of a refinery, petrochemical or chemical facility, Digital Twins can be used to model and simulate the structure and behavior of equipment, systems, and processes. This session will decompose and demystify the ‘Asset’ and ‘Visual’ virtual representations and their association with one another as Digital Twins. Supported by key use cases that are commonly faced by every operating facility along with actual achieved benefits.
Participants will:

• Gain a basic practical understanding Digital Twins in their primary forms,


• Secure guidance as to the accepted prerequisites, methods, and required level of effort to craft and deploy Digital Twins,


• Learn about Digital Twin sustainment challenges and mitigation strategies, and


• The achievable benefits to be realized from Digital Twin initiatives supported by actual use case experiences.

Facilitator: Bruce Taylor, Digital Transformation SME, FurtherTec

Speakers:
Bruce Taylor, Digital Transformation SME, FurtherTec
Adam Williams, Motiva Enterprises LLC

Sponsored by Koch Engineered Solutions

Speaker: Chad Carroll, Director of Transformation, Koch Engineered Solutions

Attracting and keeping talented employees is a critical activity of any organization. Steve Anderson, PhD., will share research and his experience of over twenty years in helping health care organizations hire and keep the best employees. During this interactive session you will learn the critical components of creating a culture that empowers employees and attracts the best talent. He will also share how to create hiring processes that weeds out the pretenders and get the best candidates. Dr. Anderson will talk about the necessity of holding accountable, and possibly terminating, problem employees that harm your culture of excellence.
As a result of attending this speech participants will:

• Gain insight into five functions of management.


• Learn how to design a hiring system to locate and hire the best talent.


• Understand how to develop those employees.


• Understand how to create a review system that rewards good behavior and holds accountable “bad” behavior.

Facilitator: Lawrence Moreaux, LyondellBasell Industries

Speaker:
Steve Anderson, PhD., Integrated Leadership Systems

This session will discuss Phillips 66's employee-initiated journey to hands-free safety tools.

Facilitator:
Willis Jernigan, Koch Companies Public Sector, LLC

Speakers:
Russell Thompson, Phillips 66
Jarvis Barnes, Phillips 66

Technology Provider:
Chris Lee, The Hand Safety Tool Company

The Chemical Safety Board will present its findings and recommendations from its April 2018 FCC Unit Explosion and Asphalt Fire at Husky Superior Refinery investigation, published in December 2022. Two FCC experts will then discuss industry's response and the integration of lessons learned into FCC training.

Speakers:
Ziad Jawad, Phillips 66
Richard Grove, Chevron USA
Melike Yersiz, US Chemical Safety Board

First Time Attendee Lounge, the HUB: Engage with EMPOWER

Speakers:
Fritz Kin, Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Tom Myers, Cheniere Energy

Facilitators:
Andy Woods, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company

Technology Provider:
Byron Kieser, Clean As New

Facilitator: Tim Chappell, Exxon Mobil Corporation

Speakers:
Rajan Puri, PBF Energy
Keith Hoffman, Exxon Mobil Corporation

Facilitator: Joe Famolaro, ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company

Speaker:
Virgil Guzman, TapcoEnpro
Brandon Seltzer, Blac Inc

AFPM Lounge, Dallas 1: Walk the Line and Winterization Demonstration

Facilitator: Willis Jernigan, Koch Companies Public Sector LLC

Speakers
Mark Mitchell, LyondellBasell Industries
Brian Probert, LyondellBasell Industries
Casey Long, Flint Hills Resources, LLC

This session explores the issue of making data driven open loop models for a complete plant. This involves many independent and dependent variables and the task is to find meaningful and reproducible relationships between them. This webinar will help anyone involved in the task in the refinery, petrochemicals, or any continuous processing unit.

Facilitator: Atique Malik, AIControl LLC

Speakers:
Adi Punuru, ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Co.
Rajan Rathinasabapathy, Phillips 66
Vikram Gokhale, Chevron U.S.A.
Stephen Dzuik, Aspen Tech
Aaron Durke, Imubit
Yangdong Pan, Delek US
Alex Kalafatis, Aspen Tech

Facilitators:
Derek Blackwell, Chevron Products Company
Greg Mullek, Chevron Refining

Speakers:
Caroline Lauro, Chevron Products Company
Tommy Wagener, Chevron Products Company

Many refiners are processing larger volumes of attractively priced unconventional crudes produced from fracking operations. Contain polymers and other additives that upstream processors are often used to enhance oil recovery or address hydraulic limitations in their operations. These additives can disrupt refining unit operations such as Crude Desalters or restrict the ability of the refiner to meet key product specifications such as JFTOT or NACE Spindle Corrosion test.

Facilitator: Sam Lordo, Becht

Speakers:
Bob Falkiner, Becht
Wesley Teasdale, Halliburton Multi-Chem

Facilitators:
Steve Philoon, Honeywell UOP
Matt Hutchinson, Axens

Speakers:
Christian Arnoux, Axens North America
Robert Auers, RBN Energy

AFPM Lounge, Dallas 1: FCC Process Safety Roadshow

Facilitator: Willis Jernigan, Koch Companies Public Sector LLC

Speakers
Mark Mitchell, LyondellBasell Industries
Brian Probert, LyondellBasell Industries
Casey Long, Flint Hills Resources, LLC

The carbon intensity of Reforming Units is inherently one of the higher processes in the refinery due to its energy requirements. This presentation will explore ways to improve carbon intensity with various equipment upgrades, as well as showing the positive impact that optimal catalyst performance can have on reducing Carbon Intensity.

Speakers:
Rhett Finch, Marathon Petroleum
Sujoy Ganguly, UOP
Tyler Krupp, Axens North America
Yaz Seif, Marathon Petroleum Company

Over the last few years, there has been an increase in through body leaks on cast HF Alkylation valves. This presentation will review several real life examples of casting failures on valves in HF Alkylation service including cross sections of the failure location. These failures have occurred on both low RE carbon steel and Alloy 400 (M35-1) castings. Some common causes of casting failures will be reviewed including sand inclusions, porosity and varying levels of shrinkage. Common locations of casting quality issues with HF Alkylation valves will be discussed including the bottom bowl area and the body to end flange transition on Alloy 400 plug valves. The presentation will also cover some of the methods that are being implemented in the industry to improve the casting quality of HF Alkylation valves along with efforts to standardize and consolidate requirements for these valves.

Speaker: Michael Alford, Marathon Petroleum

Speakers:
Brian Green, Marathon Petroleum Corporation
David Sacks, Delek US

Processing crudes from different sources leaves the possibility of blending incompatible mixtures. Compatibility models uses correlations to estimate the potential to create incompatible mixtures. Understanding the potential for compatibility effects without physically testing the crude provides the ability to choose the crude mix and purchase it while the market factors are favorable and the ability to safely purchase distressed cargos. The paper will discuss the basis of model correlations and the application to actual blends.

Facilitator: Sam Lordo, Becht

Speaker: Scott Sayles, Becht

AFPM Lounge, Dallas 1: Emerging Leaders Networking

Facilitators:
Oscar Brown, Valero Energy Corporation
Sravan Pappu, Crystaphase

Speakers:
Mo Abueida, Valero Energy Corporation
Austin Schneider, Crystaphase

Successfully processing a changing crude diet can be a challenge from the tank farm through distillation. Upsets and performance reductions lead to processing cost penalties downstream, loss of production, and environmental impacts through greater emissions and brine water quality issues. Optimizing the design, operational parameters and chemical injection schema from crude receipts through the hot train can minimize these cost penalties and ensure performance is maintained.

Facilitators:
Greg Cantley, Marathon
Jeff Zurlo, Veolia

Speaker: Sylvain Fontaine, Veolia

This presentation will focus on industrial pump monitoring and machine optimization and showcasing IoT’s revolutionary impact on our industry. We will explore solving real problems through digitalization and the seamless connectivity of objects, illustrating how data-driven insights and automation are transforming the way we manage our facilities and improve our daily experiences. Speaker will also talk about the benefits, and challenges, and inspire you with the potential of a connected world.

Facilitator: Bruce Taylor, Furthertec

Speaker: Rudy Alexander, Breadware

Improvements in catalyst and additive technology continue to boost refinery profitability. This session will highlight how next generation FCC catalyst and additives are being used to allow refiners to process increasingly challenging feedstocks and cost effectively manage stack emissions. Case studies will be presented that demonstrate increased profitability where these advancements have been deployed.

Facilitator: Mike Federspiel, Valero Energy Corporation

Speakers:
Vasileios Komvokis, BASF
Jason Goodson and Hongbo Ma, Johnson Matthey
Christian Carnahan, CITGO

In the last few years, we have recognized improvement opportunities for recruiting local trades.  The identified opportunities can be summarized as experience and exposure.  Most instrumentation applicants have the proper certifications but lack field experience.  Motiva has recently addressed this issue by building a training program that assesses the development needs of a new hire.  This allows us to develop individual training plans and test for comprehension.  The training program will have its first trainee beginning in September.

Facilitator: Gerard Celestine, Motiva Enterprises LLC

Speakers:
Dana Hannin, Motiva Enterprises LLC
Rickey Hicks, Motiva Enterprises LLC

Sponsored by Nalco Water
Renewable diesel production units have been online for several years as operators shift their attention to renewable fuels to support their ESG commitments. This technology is similar to traditional hydroprocessing with some of the major differences being in feedstocks, operating conditions, product intermediates, metallurgy and others. A panel of experts from these operating companies will be on hand to answer audience led questions on RD operations while providing operational feedback, lessons learned and best practices.

Facilitator: Eric Legare, Chevron U.S.A. Inc.

Panel:
Paul Dofton, Marathon Petroleum Company
Kamyar Keyvanloo, Phillips 66
Tanner Lawrence, Diamond Green Diesel
Rich Smith, Chevron Products Company

AFPM Lounge, Dallas 1: Engage with EMPOWER

Corrosion types, mechanisms, and areas impacted will be examined. Additionally, corrosion related to triazines in the crude oil and potential mitigation practices will be discussed.

Facilitator: Harold Eggert, Haliburton

Speakers:
John Acord, Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Amit Patel, Phillips 66

This session will review the role of a mass balance in understanding FCC Unit operations, including the influence data quality can have on interpretation. It will also touch on various unit monitoring strategies, including the use of KBC modeling, to aid in unit optimization for maximum profitability. Real-world case studies will be presented to show the direct impact these topics can have in an operating unit.

Facilitator: Andrew Mezera, Valero Energy Corporation

Speakers:
Michael Allegro, BASF
Austin Troxler, Marathon Petroleum

Walk the Line is a conduct of operations driven, practice sharing program focused on engaging the front line to help reduce process safety events and help make sites safer. This fireside chat will discuss Walk the Line, Culture and Technology from a company leader perspective. Case studies on how Walk the Line and a strong Operating Discipline Culture have helped will be provided.

Facilitator: Lawrence Moreaux, LyondellBasell Industries

Speaker: Raymond Chafin, Pemex Deer Park

In October 2021, many of the world’s airlines committed to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. It is generally accepted that this will require the broad use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). In early September 2021, the Biden Administration announced a new goal to increase the domestic production of SAF to at least 3 billion gallons per year by 2030. This equates to just under 200 kBPD. For the purpose of this panel, the many incentives being put in place to help support the build-out of SAF production is treated as a given. This panel will focus on both the demand side, with the airline industries perspectives on SAF, and the financing industry’s supply side perspective on what makes a bankable SAF project. Please join this session to hear the views of TBA Speaker, Role at Untied Airlines and Chloe Petrich – Director, Project and Export Finance at Standard Chartered Bank as they talk about what their firms are doing to help drive a more sustainable future.

Facilitator: Alan Bedell, Honeywell UOP

Speakers:
Chloe Petrich, Standard Chartered Bank
Charlotte Lollar, Delta Air Lines

The composition of the US passenger car fleet is changing rapidly with the growing adoption of electric vehicles. US gasoline demand will peak at levels lower than pre-pandemic and then decline. The ship that has often kept global refining afloat will start to sink! Not all is lost, as life rafts are available, as gasoline demand in Latin America and Africa will continue to grow, with US refiners being more competitive than Europeans. Global petrochemical demand growth will provide some support to naphtha, but that will likely be in emerging economies. These export opportunities are unlikely to fully counter the decline in US gasoline demand, so how much US capacity is at risk of rationalization if they “do nothing”? What are the technology options that refiners should consider to align with shifting local demand patterns, that add value. What refinery scale is necessary to deliver a sustainable source of competitive advantage?

Facilitator: Rainer Bass, HF Sinclair Corporation

Speakers:
Alan Gelder, Wood Mackenzie
Keith Couch, Honeywell UOP

AFPM Lounge, Dallas 1: Q&A Transcript Database Demonstration

A2J is a pathway to produce SAF. The technology uses an alcohol as a feedstock to produce a low CI jet fuel. A panel of experts from major licensors will provide an overview of their technology and answer questions regarding application.

Facilitator: Brian Boeger, Axens North America

Speakers:
Kevin O’Neil, Honeywell UOP
David Schwalje, Axens
Jim Andersen, Lanzajet
Monica Normark, KBR

Alarm rationalization practices per ISA 18.2 and Safety PHA teams tend to have different approaches to justify alarms. As a result of these differences, alarms taken as safeguards in PHAs can be downgraded or in some cases removed during alarm rationalization. On the other side, PHA teams have a tendency to add more alarms than needed as safeguards which is counter to alarm rationalization principles. This session will highlight examples of these differences and approaches to agree through collaboration by understanding the needs of each team. Participants will:

• See examples of PHA risk ranking contrasted with alarm prioritization matrix that illustrates one difference


• See why it is ok to challenge safety alarms if redundant or counter to alarm rationalization principles


• See why the alarm rationalization team may recommend PHA team swap or change safeguards


• See why it is important to have the alarm management database aligned with PHA documentation


• Understand the difference between a rated independent protection layer (IPL) and a non-rated safeguard as it pertains to alarm rationalization

Facilitator: Alyssa Parks, Pemex Deer Park

Panel:
Steve Gill, HF Sinclair
Karen Kuhn, Cenovus Energy Inc.
Patrick Robinson, Phillips 66
John Durnin, Marathon Petroleum Corporation

This presentation will present in two parts starting with USA DeBusk. ZymeFlow will follow with their general decon process and an overview of our chemistries. We will also be detailing best practices for a full FCC decontamination project.

Facilitator: Steve Shimoda, Technip Energies

Speakers:
Lance Packard, USA DeBusk
Steve Matza, ZymeFlow

In this session we will discuss in how a better understanding of rope access safety and capabilities can lead to more effective access selection. We will cover basic rope access safety and mitigation techniques, equipment selection, project planning, and how to deploy rope access to site. We will also cover common uses of rope access. Participants will:

• Gain an understanding of rope access capabilities and potential use


• Recognize the potential for reduced at height exposure hours as well as cost savings benefits


• Learn how to identify rope access work

Facilitator: Andy Woods, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company

Speaker: Joanna McClellan, BrandSafway

In this session key aspects of coke drum life-cycle management will be discussed, covering the useful life of these vessels from “cradle” to “grave”; important aspects such as supplemental requirements for design and fabrication, specialized in-service inspection, monitoring and assessment tools, pro-active and reactive repairs, will be briefly covered

Facilitator: Bill Clark, Phillips 66

Speakers:
Antonio Seijas, Phillips 66
Dave Dewees, Becht

The panel of reforming SMEs representing operating companies and technology licensors will discuss number of safety and reliability topics including reforming emergency shut down interlocks and actions, philosophy on imposing operating limits by reformer heater skin thermocouples and experience with handling spent Semi-regen reforming catalyst

Panel:
Taylor Fama, Daily Thermetrics
Rhett Finch, Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Matt Hutchinson, Axens North America
Alex Kniuksta, Honeywell UOP
Alex Sabitov, Phillips 66
Russ Wiltse, Valero Energy Corporation

AFPM Lounge, Dallas 1: Safety Portal Demonstration

Join this session to hear the latest on API's 5th edition of Recommended Practice (RP) 751, Safe Operation of Hydrofluoric Acid Alkylation Unit. In this session, we're discussing maintenance from the operator perspective, integrity management and other safety programs for hydrofluoric (HF) acid alkylation units.

Facilitator: Herb Haught, CVR Energy

Speaker: Monica Plowman, Ethos Mechanical Integrity

There’s something to be learned from everyone whether you are just starting out in your career or years in. Participate in a peer-to-peer conversation and knowledge sharing on relatable and important topics, such as leadership and technology.

Facilitators:
Elizabeth Manning, LyondellBasell Industries
Daniel McGraw, Marathon Petroleum Corporation

Panelists:
Carol Dwaik, Veolia Water Technologies and Solutions
Brent Gregory, Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Andrew Rigaud, Ergon, Inc.
Alfredo Villa, Topsoe, Inc.

Speakers:
Ben Mossman, CHS
Richard Hanson, Petroval
Jacob Young, Petroval

The hydrogen economy has become a central point of discussion as the energy industry evolves towards carbon reduction and “net zero” targets. Central to efficient production and utilization of lower carbon footprint hydrogen is the development of hydrogen hubs, which are defined as the network and supply chain of producers, consumers, and infrastructure for decarbonized hydrogen. This session will highlight delineation of the colors of hydrogen, potential end uses of hydrogen and summarize H2 hubs and early learnings.

Speakers:
Mike Annon, Becht
Nathan Barkley, Becht
Darren York, Becht
Robert Ohmes, Becht

This session will present and discuss how the implementation of common business processes, complex scientific and business analytics and related performance dashboards utilizing low code technologies have rapidly maximized levels of organizational performance. Low/No Code platforms now enable experienced knowledge workers in front line organizations to add significant levels of incremental value as ‘Citizen Developers’ and ‘Citizen Data Scientist’. Without incurring the traditional levels of cost and external development overhead. In an environment where compliance with defined work practices and procedures, and performance transparency are so critical, it is amazing that critical workflows continued to be consigned to manual tasks and office tools like email to actuate.
Participants will:

• Gain an understanding of the current and future state of Low/No Code technology,


• Appreciate the achievable benefits to be realized from Low/No Code platforms,


• Learn how to maximize and secure the best results from your human talent, and


• Secure insights on how to begin a Low/No Code business process automation initiative.

Facilitator: Bruce Taylor, FurtherTec

Speakers:
David Horn, GembaSys
Andy Gramann, Macedon Consulting
Sarah Mahmoud, Parkland Refining (B.C.) Ltd.

Reliability of critical FCC equipment often drives turnaround planning and cycle length. Cyclones, slide valves, refractory and major rotating equipment repair planning can make or break a FCC cycle. This session will review critical components of reliable FCC operation and what a turnaround inspection and repair plan should encompass to improve long term FCC reliability.

Facilitator: Tiffany Clark, Marathon Petroleum Corporation

Speakers:
Stephen Forry, CECO Emtrol-Buell
Virgil Guzman, TapcoEnpro
Dan Sack, Becht

AFPM Lounge, Dallas 1: Engage with Women in Industry

There’s something to be learned from everyone whether you are just starting out in your career or years in. Participate in a peer-to-peer conversation and knowledge sharing on relatable and important topics, such as leadership and technology.

Facilitators:
Elizabeth Manning, LyondellBasell Industries
Daniel McGraw, Marathon Petroleum Corporation

Panelists:
Carol Dwaik, Veolia Water Technologies and Solutions
Brent Gregory, Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Andrew Rigaud, Ergon, Inc.
Alfredo Villa, Topsoe, Inc.

After looking into the oil and gas future challenges and opportunities, Delek US adopted the ambitious vision to become a key player in the energy market and initiated its comprehensive journey involving people, processes, technology, and culture. Learn more of the fascinating story of how Delek operates Drones by Autonomous Inspection Flights using BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line Of Sight).

Facilitator: Bill Clark, Phillips 66

Speaker:
Mike Reed, Delek US
Ido Biger, Delek US

Facilitators:
Sergio Robledo, Topsoe Inc.
Mike Mitzner, Axens North America

Speakers:
David de Gruyl, Axens North America
Lon Schuckman, CHS Inc.
Ryan Jesina, Topsoe, Inc.

In this session we will show the results of a failure in a Mechanical Integrity Program. This track will also discuss event investigation results, along with, lessons learned and path forward, in hopes to enlighten all in the industry.

Facilitator: Dean Roberts, Ergon-West Virginia Refining Inc.

Speaker: Cory Bird, Ergon, Inc.

Pyrolysis is the thermal conversion of biomass, municipal waste and/or plastic in the absence of oxygen to produce a liquid product. This pyrolysis oil product will have various properties depending on the feedstock and technology. However, it can be further refined through e.g. hydrotreatment or co-processing in an FCC unit to produce steam cracker feed or other products. This session will focus on plastic pyrolysis technology and the role Refiners will play in enabling a circular economy for plastics.

Facilitators:
Cliff Avery, Ketjen Corporation
Matthew Goodwin, BASF Corporation

Speakers:
Jeremy DeBenedictis, Alterra Energy
Outi Teras, Neste

Reliability of critical FCC equipment often drives turnaround planning and cycle length. Cyclones, slide valves, refractory and major rotating equipment repair planning can make or break a FCC cycle. This session will review critical components of reliable FCC operation and what a turnaround inspection and repair plan should encompass to improve long term FCC reliability.

Facilitator: Tiffany Clark, Marathon Petroleum Corporation

Speakers:
Stephen Forry, CECO Emtrol-Buell
Virgil Guzman, TapcoEnpro
Dan Sack, Becht

David Stillman and Jonah Stillman, an intergenerational duo composed of Gen X and Gen Z. Brought to you by the Women in Industry Committee. Sponsored by Ketjen Corporation. All registrants are welcome.

The most successful digital transformation initiatives invest in employees and underlying company culture as well as technology innovations. This session will discuss how enabling process engineers with advanced analytics applications scales digital transformation efforts across companies allowing management and front-line workers access to key insights to accelerate decision making. And how these insights reinforced new levels of empowerment and contribution to their organization.
Participants will:

• Hear cases studies from refining and petrochemical manufacturers on technology deployment successes and learnings


• Learn factors to consider when establishing digital transformation initiatives, and


• Discuss ways to efficiently scale across organizations to drive enterprise-wide value

Facilitator: Bruce Taylor, FurtherTec

Speakers:
Allison Buenemann, Seeq Corporation
Holly Fitch, Marathon Petroleum Corporation

The FCCU continues to be challenged to process varying feeds in the refinery now and for the foreseeable future. This 101 series session will cover the FCC heat balance with an emphasis on feed properties and their effect on regenerator temperatures. Recommended optimization paths for regenerator temperature being too high or too low will be discussed.

Facilitator:
CJ Farley, Astron International, Inc.

Speakers:
Todd Miller, HF Sinclair Corporation
Kent Turner, W. R. Grace & Co.

(Operating Member Companies Only)

Various options existing to lower carbon intensity of existing SMR-based H2 plants. This session will explore how this can be achieved through plant operation, focusing on the reformer and PSA.

Facilitators:
James Esteban, UNICAT Catalyst Technologies, LLC

Speakers:
Diane Dierking, Johnson Matthey
Amit Gupta, Heurtey Petrochem Solutions

Net Zero CO2 emissions by 2050 will require large investments in the oil industry on technologies. New technologies must be developed to reach the target but still need to scale up and mature. Improving the performance of Existing Assets will contribute to reduce the impact on carbon footprint now and advancements in cleaning techniques can restore more lost heat transfer more efficiently than traditional methods.

Petroval will discuss technologies to preserve heat transfer by maintaining clean surfaces further into the run, while Clean as New will discuss the varying benefits & limitations of techniques to restore lost heat transfer from fouling.

Facilitators:
Sam Lordo, Becht
Jacob Young, Petroval

Speakers:
Nicolas Aubin, Petroval
Roberto Tomotaki, Clean as New

Facilitator:
Brad Hase, HF Sinclair

Speakers:
Robin Harris, Phillips 66
Mike DeHart, Valero Energy Corporation
Steven Giffin, PBF Energy

Topics:
Planning Norms
Safe Efficient Handover
Craft Skills and Availability

FCC equipment advances will feature 2 presentations, one focused on the regenerator and one focused on the reactor. The first will discuss a next generation catalyst cooler technology used to debottleneck regenerator constraints and stabilize regenerator operation. The second will cover optimization of the FCC reactor riser hydrodynamic profile to minimize dry gas & coke, increase conversion, and improve reliability.

Facilitator: Todd Hochheiser, Johnson Matthey

1. Advanced Catalyst Cooler Features to Enhance FCC Operational Flexibility
Speakers:
Yongcan Gao, Technip

2. From Vision to Reality - FCC Reactor Riser Improvement
Speakers:
Javier Rios, Honeywell UOP
Nik Larsen, Marathon

(Operating Member Companies Only)

This session will feature a discussion of current hydroprocessing issues by experienced industry panelists. Topics include:

• Co-processing of renewable and crude-based stocks in conventional units


• Feed contaminants effects and solutions


• Catalyst cycle length extension


• Reactor pressure drop causes and mitigations


• Discussion of reactor entry concerns related to pyrophoric catalyst

Facilitator:
Jeff Johns, Becht
Megan Skrodolis, Unicat

Panelists:
Goutam Biswas, Chevron Lummus Global LLC
Oscar Brown, Valero Energy Corporation
Kyle Dunaway, Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Andrea Battiston, Ketjen Corporation

Facilitator: Atique Malik, AIControl LLC

Speakers:
Ray Coker, Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Vikram Gokhale, Chevron U.S.A.
Karen Kuhn, Cenovus Energy Inc.
Yangdong Pan, Delek US
Patrick Robinson, Phillips 66
Johnny Serafin, Phillips 66
Abi Mukund, Imubit
Rajan Rathinasabapathy, Phillips 66

Technology exists to recover ammonia from Sour Water. This ammonia is considered a low carbon intensity (CI) source since it was a waste stream and can be used, for example, as a liquid hydrogen carrier for further low CI uses. This session will highlight technologies to enable ammonia recovery, utilization, and how ammonia recovery meshes into an overall facility nitrogen and sulfur management strategy.

Facilitator: Jeff Zurlo, Veolia Water Technologies and Solutions

Speakers:
Stan Holbrook, Marathon
Carlos Cavalca, Veolia

Facilitator:
Brad Hase, HF Sinclair

Speakers:
Robin Harris, Phillips 66
Mike DeHart, Valero Energy Corporation
Steven Giffin, PBF Energy

Topics:
Planning Norms
Safe Efficient Handover
Craft Skills and Availability

This interactive alarm related session is provided for attendees that are not familiar with alarm management and why alarms are a challenge.  We expect attendees to ask basic (and advanced) questions in an open and inviting session.  We welcome attendees that don’t have alarm management as their primary responsibility to better understand how their roles can impact the console operators experience with alarms (e.g. refinery personnel may want more alarms than needed thinking more is better).  Participants will:

• Learn a basic understanding to why alarm management is so important to safe and effective operation (regardless of discipline)


• Be able to ask any question related to alarms

Facilitator:
Arnold Austin, Emerson Automation Solutions

Panel:
Michael Barham, Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Troy Jones, Motiva Enterprises LLC
Patrick Robinson, Phillips 66

Co-processing of sustainable feedstocks in FCC units is gaining popularity in industry but first-hand experience is still relatively limited. This roundtable session will highlight real-world experiences and first-hand learnings from a diverse panel of experts that includes operators, technology licensors, consultants and catalyst suppliers. Discussion topics will include topics such as supply/logistics, economic incentives/credits, operating issues/troubleshooting and other commercial experiences. Bring your questions and be ready for interactive discussion!

Facilitator: Nik Larsen, Marathon Petroleum Corporation

Speakers:
Stefan Brandt, W. R. Grace & Co.
Derek Froehle, Honeywell UOP
Mel Larson, Becht
Gary Lee, Parkland Refining (B.C.) Ltd.

(Operating Member Companies Only)

This session will feature a discussion of current hydroprocessing issues by experienced industry panelists. Topics include:

• Co-processing of renewable and crude-based stocks in conventional units


• Feed contaminants effects and solutions


• Catalyst cycle length extension


• Reactor pressure drop causes and mitigations


• Discussion of reactor entry concerns related to pyrophoric catalyst

Facilitator:
Jeff Johns, Becht
Megan Skrodolis, Unicat

Panelists:
Goutam Biswas, Chevron Lummus Global LLC
Oscar Brown, Valero Energy Corporation
Kyle Dunaway, Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Andrea Battiston, Ketjen Corporation

Survey responses will be reviewed surrounding crude and coker unit production, covering a wide range of topics to include operations, technology, reliability/maintenance, digitalization.

Facilitators:
Hector Gamboa-Arizpe, CITGO
Steve Williams, Marathon Petroleum Company

Facilitator:
Brad Hase, HF Sinclair

Speakers:
Robin Harris, Phillips 66
Mike DeHart, Valero Energy Corporation
Steven Giffin, PBF Energy

Topics:
Planning Norms
Safe Efficient Handover
Craft Skills and Availability