Shutdowns Turnarounds Superconference

Join your colleagues for a complimentary and informal Operators-Only Breakfast Briefing.

This exclusive gathering is a fantastic opportunity to meet and reconnect with peers, fostering lasting connections and valuable industry relationships.

Don’t miss this chance to strengthen your network and share insights in a relaxed setting.

Space is limited and open to industry owner/operators only.

Join us for an exciting keynote interview with professional chuckwagon driver, Layne Flad. We will explore his inspiring journey from apprentice to professional driver on the World Professional Chuckwagon racing circuit. This conversation will highlight the experiential learning, deep-rooted traditions, and personal mentorship that define the path to success in this high-stakes sport. We’ll also discuss Layne’s debut at the 2024 Calgary Stampede Cowboys Rangeland Derby as one of the two Chuckwagon 101 Drivers.

Gain insights into the parallels that shape the career of a professional chuckwagon racer and of turnaround management professionals.

• Discussion of trends in the construction and maintenance labour sector in Alberta and across Canada
• Highlighting areas of growth and regions where activity is expected to increase or recede

In today’s competitive market, turnaround managers face increasing pressure to optimize operations while minimizing costs. This session will delve into innovative, cost-driven strategies for executing successful turnarounds.

• Assess strategies of a cost-driven turnaround approach versus a schedule-driven approach
• Techniques to optimize budgets effectively
• Best practices for allocating resources to ensure maximum efficiency and minimal downtime
• Identify and mitigate risks to avoid costly overruns and delays
• Leverage the latest technologies to streamline processes and enhance productivity
• Real-world examples of successful cost-driven turnarounds, highlighting key lessons learned and best practices

This session will discuss strategies to align your work scope with available labour for efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

• Assessing priorities and optimizing your turnaround complexity and risk
• Using data analytics to identify low ROI tasks to focus on high impact activities
• Engaging cross-functional teams to identify risks, minimize discovery work and ensure task alignment
• Evaluating turnaround intervals and adjusting accordingly
• Determining if some tasks can be performed while the plant is still operational, rather than during the turnaround

This session will explore techniques to control costs and schedule with innovative new approaches.

The session will delve into real-world scenarios, drawing on the Sturgeon Refinery’s first major Turnaround in 2022. Discover how IH practices were leveraged to drive safety, optimize decision-making, and enhance overall project efficiencies. We will discuss lessons learned and approaches for the scheduled spring 2025 turnaround.

• Discover how IH practices can seamlessly integrate with the planning processes, for crucial support to planners and supervision
• Examine tools that can be used to leverage technology for a safer and more efficient turnaround
• Address logistical issues such as confined space ventilation requirements, worker decontamination, PPE use, and gas detection plans
• Balancing risks and hazards without compromising safety

Managing scope creep reduces the risk of delayed schedules and cost overruns. Using real-world examples this session will discuss common pitfalls and the essential steps to manage these:

• Establishing organizational engagement to ensure scope does not fall through the cracks
• Developing a comprehensive plan that outlines the goals of the turnaround and identifies all necessary tasks, including a detailed schedule, budget, and resource allocation
• Establishing firm deadlines for scope freeze, and a formal process to make changes
• Dealing with inevitable scope changes while still maintaining control
• Managing addendums to the work list and minimizing the ‘forgotten’ work
• Developing a planning strategy using risk-based scope reviews
• Identifying and mitigating risks that could impact scope
• Maintaining clear and consistent communication to minimize potential misunderstandings
• Ensuring detailed records and decisions and changes related to scope

This session will discuss lessons learned after the turnaround at Pembina’s Redwater Fractionation & Storage Facility.

• Gain insight into what worked, what didn’t and get key takeaways from this turnaround post-mortem

Take advantage of this attendee-favourite opportunity to relax, unwind and join your colleagues with a drink and casino games. Continue to build on the invaluable connections made during the day and take your shot at some great prizes that will be up for grabs!

A labour crunch is expected in 2025 for Alberta’s oil sands projects as Dow’s new hydrogen facility gets underway. Additionally as more than 25% of Canada’s skilled labour workforce retires, many younger workers de-select trades in favour of high tech jobs.

This panel will discuss where industry will find people to fill all the necessary roles in the coming years, and strategies to attract new people to skilled trades.

Setting clear expectations and reaching agreements on scope, costs, hours, safety, quality, and control of subcontractors

• Enlisting contractor buy-in to engage all parties and render accountabilities
• Maintaining consistency of contractors throughout the project
• Reaching agreed contract terms and render accountabilities

Turnaround planning and execution is focused almost solely inside the fenceline, yet the impact is most certainly felt well beyond the facility site. Managing public engagement effectively requires a thoughtful and strategic approach. Building awareness and understanding among community stakeholders leading up to, during, and following the execution window can greatly influence the reputation of your company. This session will discuss:

• Approaches to ensure the community is adequately informed of changes to expect in traffic patterns, operational sights/sounds, employment opportunities, and any potential business disruptions
• Successful examples of communicating with transparency and seeking input from the community through public meetings, social media and other means

Supply chains worldwide have stabilized since COVID-19, but they have shifted to a new “normal”. This session will provide insight into lead times, scheduling, and improved supplier collaboration.

• Ensuring detailed planning and scheduling is in place to mitigate supply chain risk
• Building and maintaining partnerships with key suppliers with enhanced communication and collaborative platforms
• Leveraging predictive analytics to track performance metrics like on-time delivery, quality defects, and lead times
• Optimizing transportation routes to reduce emissions and incorporating eco-friendly materials and practices
• Measuring and reporting on sustainability metrics

• Best practices to ensure lessons are captured post-turnaround
• Capturing lessons learned and employee grievances in the moment for immediate improvements
• What are the key lessons learned from the summary report?
• Defining the opportunities to improve the shutdown for next time
• Incorporating documentation to ensure the quality of the start-up procedure

Explore practical solutions to some of your biggest challenges with insight from seasoned experts. Get answers to your burning questions using our interactive Q & A platform and take away new strategies for your next turnaround.

Topics will include (but are not limited to):

1. Planning component and work packages
2. Cross-shift alignment – handover from day shift to nights
3. Materials costs and getting supplies to site
4. Defining and selecting the best-fit and right third-party contracts