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.
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.
Speakers:
Brent Railey, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
The two most controversial and potentially useful aspects of applied AI reside in Generative AI and Reinforcement Learning. Generative AI has applications in technical training, procedures and guided application development. Reinforcement Learning has applications in nonlinear closed loop optimization. Both areas will be of interest to refinery engineers and managers. This session is an extension of AI 101 which presented a broader view of the areas of application for AI.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a transformative technology that is presently influencing, or will eventually influence, nearly every facet of our personal and professional lives. Although much of the information highlights the benefits of AI, it also raises concerns about potential negative impacts and unintended consequences. It's crucial to prepare the workforce for AI to reduce disruptions. Leaders will share their experiences with AI deployments, the methods used to ensure success, and lessons learned for future AI initiatives.
Take Aways:
Awareness of potential impacts of AI on personnel and culture
Methods and techniques employed to achieve and sustain positive acceptance of AI
Insights into how AI is impacting jobs and job roles and defining new valued skill sets
Moderator:
Brent Railey, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
Speakers:
Holly Fitch, Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Tyler Harnos, Big West Oil, LLC
Siva Lakshmanan, DeepHow
Reliability and Maintenance Bootcamp, Mechanical Integrity
This technical session is designed to give engineers and maintenance professionals a practical understanding of how API-579 Level 3 Fitness-for-Service (FFS) assessments—powered by Finite Element Analysis (FEA)—can solve complex reliability challenges in the oil and gas industry.
We will introduce advanced methods for evaluating equipment with damage mechanisms like corrosion, cracking, and dents. You’ll learn when Level 3 assessments are needed, how FEA is applied, and why these techniques offer better accuracy, safer outcomes, and longer equipment life.
Highlights include:
API-579 FFS framework and when to escalate to Level 3
Benefits of FEA: realistic modeling of stress, temperature, and pressure
Real-world case studies: pressure vessel corrosion, weld cracking, and pipe dents
Key takeaways for maintenance planning and repair decisions
Tailored for a broad operator-based audience, this session uses real examples—not just theory—to demonstrate how advanced analysis can enhance reliability, reduce costs, and support critical decisions.
Speakers:
Chris Harrison, Marathon Petroleum Corporation
This session will discuss the project development and workflow, implementation, and application maintenance of an Imubit DLPC that was used to reduce giveaway on drum cycles on a delayed coker unit. The DLPC was successful in reducing the number of cycles in which the target level was not achieved in the fixed cycle time period. This resulted in an overall reduction in the number of barrels given away in each cycle. The application has achieved great acceptance by Operations.
Participants will:
Gain an understanding of the Imubit DLPC application to reduce giveway on Coker Drum cycles
Gain an understanding of the workflow for an Imubit DLPC project
Gain an understanding of unique challenges and lessons learned from the project