STS-AIChE Southwest Process Technology Conference | AIChE

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STS-AIChE Southwest Process Technology Conference

March 22, 2025
Monday, September 22, 2025, 8:00am CDT to Tuesday, September 23, 2025, 4:00pm CDT
In-Person / Local
University of Houston, Student Center South
United States

Early registration is now open! Get the best rate by registering now!

Keynote Speakers Announced

Our keynote speakers will share their insights on the future of our industry and our profession.

Monday morning, Sep 22: Dean Foreman, Chief Economist of the Texas Oil & Gas Association (TXOGA), will speak on Global Economics and Energy Outlook - Q3 2025.

Tuesday morning, Sep 23: Dan Coombes, Director of PureCycle Technologies Inc.; formerly EVP for LyondellBasell, will speak on The Future of Chemical Engineering.

Welcome Letter - Kirtan Trivedi, STS Chair

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

It is our great pleasure to welcome you to the 16th STS-AIChE Southwest Process Technology Conference (SPTC). The conference theme is “Process Technology in 2025: Solid Foundation, Dynamic Future.” The conference will be held at the University of Houston, September 22-23, 2025. It will feature a diverse range of keynote presentations and technical sessions, addressing key topics in technology and the business background for the rapidly evolving oil refining and chemical industries along the US Gulf Coast.

Our industries are constantly adapting, driven largely by the business forces around us. Advances in process technology are essential to those adaptations. At SPTC 2025, we will explore how the established components of our industrial processes – including distillation, reaction engineering, process control, process safety and energy management – continue to advance and mesh with new and evolving technologies, including IIoT and AI, to meet the demands of industry today. 

SPTC 2025 will stimulate new ideas, new approaches, new professional opportunities and new friendships in our continuously evolving field. Don’t miss it! 

Sincerely, 

Kirtan Trivedi 

Chair, STS-AIChE

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A few reasons to attend...

  • Learn about key developments in process technology
  • Meet with industry leaders
  • Focus on Gulf Coast industries
  • Convenient location
  • Up to 12 PDHs available, including ethics
  • Great networking and professional camaraderie
  • The price is right!

Important Links

Conference Registration

Sponsorships

Leadership Team

Conference Chair: Kirtan Trivedi

ExxonMobil

 Conference Co-Chair: Alan Rossiter

Rossiter & Associates		 Program Chair: Virginia Sommer

Fluor		 Marketing Director: Efrain Garcia

Allstream Insiders

Schedule

Time Monday, September 22
8:00am -

9:00am		 Keynote 1: Dean Foreman,

Chief Economist of the Texas Oil & Gas Association (TXOGA).

Global Economics and Energy Outlook – Q3 2025
  Track 1 Track 2
9:15am -

10:45am

Energy Efficiency 1

Gary Gildert & Carlos Gamarra

Process Safety & Risk Management

Samantha Scruggs & Shailesh Saraykar
10:45am -

11:05am		 Refreshments & Networking Break
11:05am -

12:05pm		 Energy Efficiency 2

Carlos Gamarra & Gary Gildert		 Advances in Digitalization, Part 1: IIoT

Mark Darby & Jim Brigman
12:05pm -

1:30pm*		 Lunch Break / Engineering Ethics

Alan Rossiter
1:30pm -

3:10pm**		 Distillation and Separation

Tony Cai & Babak Rafi		 Advances in Digitalization, Part 2: AI

Jim Brigman & Mark Darby
3:10pm -

3:30pm		 Refreshments & Networking Break
3:30pm -

5:00pm		 Refinery Technology & Operations

Kirtan Trivedi		 Chemical Plant Technology & Operations

Sanjeev Kapur
5:00pm -

6:15pm		 Reception / Student Poster Session

Jaci Conrad

6:15pm -

9:00pm

 Dinner Meeting (Ticketed Event)
* Includes extra time for Ethics Session       ** Includes 10 minutes for Sponsor Presentation in AI Session
  Tuesday, September 23
8:00am -

9:00am		 Keynote 2: Dan Coombes,

Director of PureCycle Technologies, Inc.; formerly EVP for LyondellBasell.

The Future of Chemical Engineering
  Track 1 Track 2
9:15am -

10:45am		 Catalysis & Reaction Engineering

Nitish Mittal & Hsu Chiang

Renewable and Sustainable Technology 1

Gus Georgeton & Dhaval Bhandari
10:45am -

11:05am		 Refreshments & Networking Break
11:05am -

12:05pm

Efficient Water Use

Gary Gildert & Somnath Basu

 Renewable and Sustainable Technology 2

Emmanuel Dada & Gus Georgeton
12:05pm -

1:20pm		 Lunch Break
1:20pm -

2:50pm		 Leadership & Management Forum

Alan Rossiter		 Innovations in Process Technology

Jayce Mathews & Sribala Gorugantu
2:50pm -

3:10pm		 Refreshments & Networking Break
3:10pm -

4:40pm		 Process Design and Project Development

Kirtan Trivedi & Ram Kamisetty		 Process Control and Reliability

Doug White & Mark Darby

Venue & Accomodation Information

SPTC 2025 will take place at the University of Houston, Student Center South.

The Hilton University of Houston is across the street from the Student Center. It offers the most convenient accomodation for SPTC's out-of-town guests.

Join Us as a Sponsor for SPTC!

Click here for more information on sponsorship and exhibitor options.

Thank You to our Sponsors!

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Silver Sponsor

Bronze Sponsor

Exhibitors

                            

Promotional contributions made by Efrain Garcia from Allstream Insiders