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Moderator:
Susan Grissom, AFPM

Speakers:
John Auers, RBN Energy

In the refining industry, effective feed filtration is crucial for maintaining the reliability and efficiency of hydroprocessing units. This presentation, "Hydroprocessing Unit Feed Filtration Technologies and Industry Experiences," aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the purpose and types of feed filtration equipment available in the market, along with their operational considerations and industry experiences. 

Moderator:
Montri Vichailak, Marathon Petroleum Corporation

Speaker:
Andres Barrios, FILTER RESOURCES An MCE Company
Harold Doucet, Jr., FILTER RESOURCES An MCE Company
Brian Noto, FILTER RESOURCES An MCE Company
Christina Rasmussen, Marathon Petroleum Corporation

Moderator:
Sheila Bottjen, Valero Energy Corporation

Speaker:
Mike Teders, Becht

In an era of rapid technological advancement, achieving positive reliability outcomes requires a strategic blend of innovation and foundational maintenance practices. This presentation explores how organizations can harness emerging technologies to enhance awareness and enable early anomaly detection. By integrating data-driven insights with proven maintenance strategies, companies can improve operational reliability and efficiency. Through an open discussion, we will explore the real-world challenges and opportunities that arise when merging traditional maintenance with cutting-edge technology.

The session is designed as an introductory-level discussion that highlights the value of combining traditional hands-on maintenance practices with modern monitoring tools to support a more comprehensive and reliable approach to decision-making. Together we aim to uncover practical strategies for building a resilient, future-ready maintenance culture. Participants will be encouraged to share experiences and insights on navigating common pitfalls—such as over-reliance on digital tools, integration complexities, and maintaining a balance between automation and human expertise.

Moderator:
Dean Roberts, Ergon Refining, Inc.

Speakers:
Jaxson O'Brien, CHS Inc.
Mark Sannes, Flint Hills Resources, LLC

Refineries face critical challenges in heat management and water conservation, with aging infrastructure and increasing regulatory pressures. Traditional wet cooling towers are becoming increasingly unsustainable, presenting an urgent need for innovative cooling solutions. This presentation explores geothermal technologies as a transformative approach to addressing refineries' cooling and energy efficiency challenges. Modern refineries typically operate with billion BTUs of excess heat, representing a significant opportunity for energy optimization. Geothermal cooling strategies offer multiple benefits, including substantial water savings, reduced energy consumption, and potential for waste heat monetization. By leveraging absorption chillers, thermal energy networks, and advanced heat exchange technologies, refineries can unlock new economic and environmental efficiencies.

Key discussion points will include:

• Quantifying waste heat potential in refinery operations


• Geothermal cooling technologies for process units


• Water scarcity mitigation strategies


• Economic benefits of thermal energy network implementation


• Case studies demonstrating successful heat management interventions


• This presentation provides process engineers and executive leadership a comprehensive overview of geothermal cooling's potential to revolutionize refinery thermal management, offering a pragmatic pathway to improved operational sustainability.

Moderator:
Alex Bruns, Nalco Water

Presenter:
Jay Egg, Egg Geo LLC
Mimi Egg, Egg Geo LLC

Facilitator:
Andy Woods, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP

Speakers:
Jim Griffin, San Jacinto College
Ferril Onyett, BrandSafway
Brian Novicki, Valero Energy Corporation

Will the energy industry have enough operating and design & construction personnel to operate and maintain existing assets and build and operate the infrastructure planned for the future? How can we address the changing needs of the generation about to enter the workforce? Are companies adopting and implementing advanced technologies to enhance safety, quality, and efficiency on each jobsite?

The panel, consisting of owners, EPCs, academia, and construction workforce training and development experts, will discuss how we can develop, engage, train and sustain enough personnel to meet the projected energy and infrastructure needs across the country.

Review and answer submitted questions with a select panel of experts questions regarding crudes/coking.

Moderators:
Hector Gamboa-Arizpe, CITGO Petroleum Corporation
Jacob Young, Petroval S.A.

Panelists:
Mark Cox, Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Gary Gianzon, Becht
Kamur Bantwal Rama, HF Sinclair Corporation
Graylon Williams, Nalco Energy Services

Facilitator:
Atique Malik, AIControl LLC

Speakers:
Darin Foote, CHS Inc.
Chuck Johnston, Marathon Petroleum Corporation LP
Vidyashankar Kuppuraj, Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Johnny Serafin, Phillips 66
Nic Tognetti, CHS Inc.

Advanced process control (APC) has been employed in FCC applications for 40 years. Despite the similarities of FCC Technology and APC platforms the success of these applications varies widely. In this session we will discuss common threads that lead to poor outcomes and how to build a successful APC program on a modern FCC.