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
This panel session will explore how operating companies leverage industry good practices and advanced computing technology to swiftly process predictive analytics. It will also cover the use of high-performance HMI graphics and effective alarm management to enhance situational awareness.
Participants will:
· Learn how analytics (predictive, process conditions nearing an operating limit, reliability focused machine learning, corrosion prediction tied to IOWs, etc.) can assist with identifying pre-abnormal conditions and take appropriate actions to avoid an abnormal situation (prevention).
· Learn how high-performance HMI graphics can improve situational awareness to detect abnormal situations before alarms occur and perform required action(s) faster to avoid consequences.
· Understand the aspect of dealing with abnormal situations is alarm management. It is essential to maximize the time available for operators to respond while keeping the number of alarms triggered at a minimum. Preventing abnormal situations before the alarms activate keeps the console operators focused on the operation without having to manage an abnormal event.
See related presentations on the AFPM Safety Portal at https://safetyportal.afpm.org/
Moderator:
Tim Olsen, Emerson Automation Solutions
Speakers:
Carlos Acosta, Phillips 66
Vance Flosenzier, INVISTA
David Lee, User Centered Design Services, Inc.
Marsha Wisely, Athion
The oil refining process generates a significant volume of wastewater that contains a suite of challenging contaminants, from hydrocarbons to heavy metals and organic compounds. Oil production at a refinery relies on efficient and reliable wastewater treatment as it is impossible for the facility to operate without treating its effluent. Issues with the wastewater treatment systems can result in production limitations, as well as significant environmental impacts and violations. These systems can be complex, and they are sensitive to upset conditions due to poor feed quality, unexpected contaminants, or equipment breakdown.
This presentation will discuss a significant upset condition that impacted both the primary and secondary wastewater treatment system at a large West Coast refinery. We will present the processes that allowed for detection of the upset, and the steps taken by the operations group, technical team, and vendor support that helped maintain target production rates and avoid any environmental violations or impacts. The mitigation steps allowed for storage and post-upset treatment of the problematic effluent streams. The technical team evaluated options for treatment and environmental compliance, and the water treatment vendor supplied specialty biological treatment technology to get the system back online as quickly as possible. All of this contributed to a successful upset response and the implementation of best practices that can help all refineries facing a wastewater oil contamination.
Moderator:
Dan Harbs, Veolia
Speakers:
Angela Wharton, Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
Kai Zhang, Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
The intersection of refining and petrochemical manufacturing has never been more significant as industries navigate the dual challenges of efficiency and sustainability. This session will explore the critical role of Perchloroethylene (PERC) in modern refining processes while also highlighting its applications in petrochemical production.
PERC is recognized as one of the safest catalyst activators during normal operations, as well as a regenerator for spent catalysts. Utilizing less efficient materials can necessitate larger quantities of hazardous substances being kept onsite, thus increasing exposure risks. Other chlorinating agents are either restricted by the EPA or are inherently more hazardous, making PERC a preferable option.
Attendees will gain insights into how PERC enhances refining technologies through processes such as isomerization and catalytic reforming, which help ensure compliance with environmental regulations. Industry experts will discuss the extensive benefits of utilizing PERC, emphasizing innovations that contribute to both safety and operational efficiency.
Moreover, we will review advancements in safety protocols that facilitate the effective handling of PERC, ensuring minimal exposure and adherence to rigorous regulatory standards. By fostering dialogue among leaders in refining and petrochemical manufacturing, this session aims to identify collective strategies for driving innovation and achieving sustainability goals within the industry.
Panel:
John Durnin, Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Steve Gill, HF Sinclair
Yangdong Pan, Delek US
Patrick Robinson, PBF Energy Inc.
Operation of a complex refinery process involves keeping the process within varous types of limits. These include safe operating limits, integrity operating windows, machine protection or other reliability limits, and product quality limits. This diverse background panel session from process controls and process safety management explores how to effectively identify these parameters and keep the limits in front of operators using instrumented shutdowns, alarm systems, and other monitoring and alerting software.