MEScon Operations Roundtable
The MEScon Operations Roundtable was kicked off with an opening message from Angie Slavens, UniverSUL Consulting, who welcomed delegates and mentioned that this event is a throwback to the annual MESPON Operations Roundtable but done a little differently.
The roundtable was chaired by Elmo Nasato, Nasato Consulting, and supported by industry experts from Amine Experts, ASRL, Axens, BASF, DuBois Chemicals, Enersul, Euro Support, and Worley Comprimo.
The session promoted an open exchange of ideas, encouraging participants to share their operational experiences and challenges in the areas of gas treating, sulphur recovery, tail gas treating, sulphur forming and handling, and CO2 capture.
Each topic introduction was followed by an open forum Q&A, fostering a collaborative atmosphere where attendees could learn from one another.
In addition to technical insights, the roundtable offered valuable networking opportunities.
Conducting the session at the beginning of the event provides an opportunity for participants to identify key individuals to connect with over the course of the four day event, presenting the opportunity to foster professional relationships and potential collaborations.
The rich discussions and exchange of operational experiences ensured that delegates left with actionable insights and practical information to apply to their own facilities.
The collaborative environment and expert-led sessions were instrumental in addressing current industry challenges and exploring innovative solutions, making the MEScon Operations Roundtable a success that is likely to be repeated in future years.
MEScon Sulphur Youth Majlis Session
The Sulphur Youth Majlis Session was a specially designed event aimed at inspiring and guiding young professionals under the age of 38 as they explore career paths within the sour gas treating and sulphur industries.
This session focused on fostering meaningful connections, providing valuable insights, and equipping attendees with the necessary tools for successful careers in sulphur.
The session was initiated by a welcome message from Nasser Al Busaeedi, SVP ADNOC Gas, who emphasized the importance of youth development in ADNOC, as well as the importance of sulphur to ADNOC.
A scavenger hunt then ensued, which served as an ice breaker to get people engaged and interacting with one another.
When participants returned to the room, the Youth Panel was conducted, featuring up-and-coming young professionals in the industry: Al Sail Al Jaberi from ADNOC Sour Gas, Maryam Al Marzooqi from ADNOC Gas, Bader Alotaibi from Aramco, Feras Kordi from BASF, and Mahmoud Shafy from HEC.
These individuals shared their career journeys, discussing what they love about their current roles, the challenges they face, their aspirations if failure was not an option, and the tools they believe are necessary for achieving their career goals.
Following the Youth Panel, an Expert Panel session comprised of seasoned professionals with diverse career paths was conducted.
The panel included Mohamed Ashraf from Systems & Equipment, who discussed his entrepreneurial path; Rashed Bametraf from ADNOC Gas, who focused on technical operations; Rob Marriott from ASRL, who shared insights from an academic perspective; Elmo Nasato from NCL, who talked about innovation and R&D; Angie Slavens from UniverSUL, who addressed techno-commercial careers; and Ravi Srinivas from ADNOC Sour Gas, who discussed technical design.
These experts provided insights into their career motivations, shared stories of influential mentors, and offered advice to young professionals in the sulphur industry.
Following the panel discussions, an engaging open forum Q&A allowed attendees to actively participate by asking questions and sharing their thoughts.
The use of a MEScon cube cushion, which was tossed around the room to designate the person who would receive the mic, ensured an orderly and inclusive discussion.
Overall, the Sulphur Youth Majlis Session successfully inspired young professionals, provided them with valuable career guidance, and facilitated networking opportunities crucial for their professional growth in the sour gas and sulphur industries.
Aisha Alkayyoomi and Fatima Aldhaheri of ADNOC Sour Gas won the scavenger hunt prize, collecting all six correct answers in the shortest amount of time.
Arthur vas Asbeck of Paqell won the prize for best pipe cleaner sculpture with his H2S molecule.
BR&E Carbon Capture in the Sulphur Value Chain Workshop
BR&E’s Ganank Srivastava and Mostafa Shehata conducted a reservation-only workshop session which reviewed the complete process flow of a sour gas plant, representative of the Middle East landscape.
The workshop explored opportunities for implementing CO2 capture plants along this value chain utilizing BR&E’s simulation tools.
The workshop was fully subscribed, with around 40 attendees, who found it to provide an interesting and unique perspective on the sulphur value chain.
Technical Showcases
Chaired by Frank Scheel, Worley Comprimo, this year’s Technical Showcase session highlighted innovative advancements in the sulphur industry.
Leorelis Vasquez and Nathan Smith from Worley Comprimo discussed carbon capture options for gas processing plants, focusing on reducing emissions and enhancing sustainability.
Jan Kiebert from Sulphur Experts presented on the technical aspects of sweeping and shutting down Sulphur Recovery Units (SRUs) through the Tail Gas Treating Unit (TGTU), emphasizing plant longevity and operational efficiencies.
Arthur van Asbeck from Paqell introduced developments in the Thiopaq O&G process, showcasing the use of biotechnology for more efficient sulfur recovery.
Johann Le Touze from Axens presented the CRS 41 catalyst, explaining how its low-density TiO2 composition improves sulfur recovery efficiency.
Majed Qaysi from Aramco highlighted orbital shaft machining technology for sulfur pelletizers, which enhances precision and durability.
The session concluded with an engaging Q&A, allowing attendees to interact with the presenters and explore the innovations further.