Below is the provisional program for RefComm Galveston 2025. Please check back here for program updates over the next few weeks:

Did you know that RefComm attendees have full access to all presentations? Attend anything that interests you!

(Listed in no particular order)

Welcome to RefComm Galveston 2025

Human & Organizational Performance presented by Susan Lee, Marathon Petroleum Co.

2025 Coker Impact Award

Safety Moment

Minimizing TAR Shutdown Emissions presented by Vincent Patterson, Marathon Petroleum Co.

Improving DCU Availability Increase from 79% to 94% in 3 years: Sweat the Small Stuff presented by Iain Downie, BP Whiting Refinery

TBA presented by Gary Reisen, Phillips 66

Coker 2 Fractionator Unplanned Outage presented by Maddy Casabat, PBF Chalmette

Coke Drum Vapor Line Coking - Can it be Controlled? presented by Mitch Moloney, Coking.com

Coker Heater Guillotines presented by Ali Aldaihani, KNPC

Wash Oil Optimization presented by Chuck Munro, Spraying Systems Co.

Effective Disturbance Handling During DCU Switching and Backwarming via Application of Improved Level Control Scheme for LCGO, HCGO, and Stripper Feed presented by Larraine Doon-Daep, Petron Bataan Refinery

Synthetic Graphite Demand Drives Attractive Techno-economics for Coker Upgrades presented by Keith Magdoza, Chevron Lummus Global and Vishal Suri, Evalueserve

Advanced Coating Technologies for Corrosion & Fouling Control in Residue Upgraders presented by Luc Vernhes and Duke Tran, Velan Inc.

Optimization of Delayed Coker Unit Heaters Performance presented by Moudhi AlDeweesh and Abdulah Alshemali, KNPC

Coker Heater Health for Maximun Efficiency and Throughput presented by Grant Jacobson, Becht

Coke Drum Bottom Head Flange Distortion and Repair presented by Alex Berry, Integrity Engineering Solutions Pty. Ltd and Antonio Seijas, Phillips 66

Loss of Containment in an Auto-Ignition Zone - Critical Dead-Leg Monitoring presented by Vrushal Deshpande, Suncor Energy Inc.

Drill Stem Drive Erratic RPM Failure for Hydraulic Decoking System presented by Dhari Alnkhailan, KNPC

Plugged Coker Fractionator Bottoms: The Cost of Lax Adherence to Technical Operating Envelopes presented by Prahakar Reddy and Reynold Okudzeto, Suncor Energy

Coker Heater Guillotines presented by Ali Alkaihani, KNPC

Low Silicon Antifoam in Cokers presented by Adrian Azpilicueta, NALCO and Emiro Guignan, Phillips 66

Bottom Unheading Valve Failure presented by Omar Alkandari, KNPC

Use of Load Indicating Studs for Assembly and Optimization of a Coke Drum BUD Joint, presented by Alex Berry and a US Refining Co.

Modifications to CNRL's DCU Main Fractionator and the Results presented by Grzegorz Kanyszek, Sulzer and CNRL

DeltaValve Isolation Gate Valve Technology Increases Unit Reliability and Profitability presented by DeltaValve

Coke Drums Are Only a Piece of the Pie presented by David Gibson, ExxonMobil

SOCAR STAR DCU Expansion Project presented by Juan Sansiviero, Wood with Cem Deniz and Kaan Yaman, SOCAR STAR Refinery

Coke Drums - Fatigue Life Design Factors Review & Feed Inlet Design Effects presented by Dave Dewees and Mitchel Moloney, Becht

DeltaValve - A Strategic Asset Management Partner presented by DeltaValve

Focused Breakout Session: Coke Solids Handling facilitated by Savage Services

• Decision Process for Coke Handling Solution Based During a Feed Study @ Singapore Refinery presented by Ralf Gast, ART-Envi Services GmbH & Co. KG

Breakout Sessions: Process, Operations, Maintenance and Reliability

Optimizing FCCU Performance with Nuclear Measurement Technology presented by David Williams, Berthold Technologies

AFPM FCC Safety Roadshow Workshop presented by Richard Grove, Chevron and other SMEs. 

Virtual Assembly Revolutionizes FCCU Reactor Installation presented by Kraig Simpson, Rotating Machinery Services and Jose Albarracin, ExxonMobil

RFCC Regenerator Cyclone Hex Mesh Corrosion and Catalyst Loss Driven by Refractory Damage - a Case Study presented by Sudharsanan Soundararajan and Velevan Sikkampatti Thamizhan, ADNOC

Evolution of FCC Flue Gas Emissions Controls presented by Phillip Niccum, Independent Consultant

FCC Cyclone Inspection and Maintenance for Reliable Operation presented by Stephen Forry, CECO Emtrol-Buell

Operating Issues Faced by CO Boilers in the FCC Process presented by Ashutosh Garg, Furnace Improvements Service Inc.

Enhancing FCC Slurry Valve Performance: Challenges and Innovative Solutions presented by Virgil Guzman, TapcoEnpro

FCC Hotspots presented by Dan Sack, Becht

Case Study - Decontamination of a Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit and Surrounding Vessels presented by Ben Davis and Eddie Knight, Zymeflow

Comparing FCC Optimization Opportunities with Micro Motion Coriolis & Flexim Ultrasonic Flow Meters presented by Warren Merriman, Emerson

Technology Selection for FCCU Main Column Bottoms Slurry Oil Filtration & Catalyst Recovery presented by Patrick Hill, Mott Corp.

Steam Systems in SRUs A workshop presented by Tom Perry and Carson Hannah, QMax Industries

Condensation is Key: Understanding the role of undesirable condensation in SRU corrosion and plugging A workshop presented by Brandon Forbes and Bruce Thacker, CSI Ametek

Simulation-based Thermohydrodynamic Analysis of a Claus Process Catalytic Reactor presented by Nasser Mohieddin Abukhdeir, Continuum Engineering Inc.

Emulsions in Amine Units Treating LPG: Testing and Troubleshooting Leading to Capacity, Performance and Profitability Increase presented by David Engel, Nexo Solutions

Oil Field Chemical Additives Impact on Sour Water Stripper Operations presented by Sam Lordo, Becht

Reliable Temperature Measurement in SRU Thermal Reactors: Key Strategies and Techniques presented by Martin McCallister, Delta Controls Corporation

Boost SRU Uptime: Tail Gas Incinerator Workshop presented by Rustin Heflin and Gianluca Tanda, Zeeco Inc.

Detecting Water-Related Issues in Sulfur Recovery Units presented by Elmo Nasato, Nasato Consulting Ltd.

Sour Water Stripping Workshop presented by Steve Ayres, SGS Sulphur Experts

Operational Excellence in Sulfur Recovery Unit for Maximization of Acid Gas Processing and Best Practices: Challenges and Innovative Solutions presented by Sunil Umare, HPCL Mumbai Refinery

Operation & Safety Highlights

Turnaround Summaries

Incidents & Other Presentations

Breakthrough in Syncrude Fluid Cokers Lancing System presented by Bingfeng Gu, Suncor Energy

Axens Flexicoking Digital Journey: a data driven approach for near-real advanced monitoring through ConnectIn presented by Lautaro Cascino, Axens