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2024 Agenda

2024 Advisory Board 

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We would like to thank our 2024 conference advisory board for their advice and support in developing the agenda
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Click here to see our 2024 advisory board

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Engineering & Construction Agenda 2024
 

Market Overview

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The Outlook for LNG – Meeting the Demands of a Changing Energy System

 

  • Assess the global demand & supply outlook for LNG over the next 10-20 years

  • How much new capacity is needed globally and what role will the US play in that supply

  • US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and LNG – implications

  • Commodity market trends – outlook

  • Project Portfolio Trends - LNG Capacity scaling – Economic, commercial, and constructability considerations

  • Hydrogen (and Ammonia)

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Craft Labor & Workforce Development

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Analysing the Craft Labor Picture in the US Gulf Coast Up to date overview and analysis of craft labor costs in the US Gulf Coast

 

  • Understand supply, demand, wage rate forecasts, estimated travellers, per diems, retention schemes and utilization rates for skilled craft labor

  • Are all craft labor shortages created equally?  

  • Are craft labor shortages universal to all trades?  

  • Which trades are experiencing craft labor shortages?

  • How long does it take to build out a robust craft labor pool & should LNG operating companies be partnering with local community colleges to ensure skilled labor?

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Panel - EPC & Contractor perspectives - Addressing the Craft Professionals Labor and Engineering Shortages 

 

  • How does the major EPC’s and contractors plan to manage the craft labor shortage challenge for major LNG projects

  • What does the current craft professional availability actually look like

  • How are EPC contractors pricing labor rates

  • What are we doing to improve the productivity of our craft professional labor workforce

  • Where/how does modularization and AWP fit in and mitigate this problem

  • What can we do to attract the talent (engineering, operations, HSSE, etc.) needed? – Development and Retainment

  • Are HVECs (high value engineering centers) actually working and if so, what are the keys to successful implementation

  • What does the pipeline look like for new resources, out of high school/college?

  • How important is work/life balance (integration)  and benefits such as flex time?

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Panel - Workforce Development – How Can the LNG Industry Compete with Silicon Valley?

 

  • Cross industry Collaboration – ways in which owners are working with stakeholders from across the industry to develop the LNG workforce needed to support the development of projects across the Gulf Coast and for our industry

  • Attracting Talent – Understand what the industry needs to do in order to make jobs in the LNG industry appealing to graduates and attract the talent it needs to prosper

  • Identify the Gaps that Need to be Filled – to drive the increased transition of students from the point of graduation (in the skilled trades or office roles) into careers in the LNG industry

  • Workforce diversity; business value and impact to the bottomline

  • Physical and Psychological Safety – Interconnection of Inclusion and Safety

  • How do we attract, develop, and retain a diverse workforce into the industry

  • Elements of diversity; visible and invisible - age, gender, race, experiences

  • How do we create an environment which is appealing to early career professionals, in field and office?

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Design & Execution

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Modular Construction & Pre-Fabrication including disruptive technologies

 

 

Modular Construction Part 1 – Panel  – Perspectives from Subject Matter Experts

 

  • Hear from globally recognised subject matter experts on modular construction

  • Understand the key aspects of modularisation

  • When you should go modular & when you shouldn’t

  • What are the key benefits and downsides

  • Learn what the modular capabilities are in the US and Mexico (and around the world)

  • Understand key factors in managing an effective modular supply chain and transportation network

  • What impact does going modular have on the EPC’s and Client’s resources

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Modular Construction Part 2 – Panel – Real World Case studies & Lessons Learned

 

  • Hear real world case studies from companies that have extensive experience in utilising a modular approach on their projects

  • Learn how they found using a modular approach on their projects and the key lessons learned

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Panel - Execution & Design Strategies – to improve schedules and productivity

 

  • What can we do with the design early, so you can start construction earlier

  • How can we streamline that process to get to the field earlier

  • Prefabrication and assembly – what are the capabilities to do key tasks offsite in advance to help improve productivity and mitigate labor shortages

  • How can we do more with less?

  • Are digital twins helping and how can EPCs handover digital twins to the Owner in a manner to where they are useful during the operating life-cycle

  • How are drones being used to monitor/measure progress and work front availability

  • What are the benefits of digitizing engineering and vendor data to improve access to field construction personnel

  • How can regulatory process improve to allow for early activities to begin w/o final design of some elements of the facility

 

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Panel - Project Development – Value Improving Practices on LNG Projects

 

  • Implementation of Project Management Value Improving Practices on LNG Projects (Assurance, Framing, Value Engineering, Constructability Review.)

  • Technology overviews in support of project portfolio trends (carbon management, etc.)

  • Improvements to reduce schedule and capital cost

 

 

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Advanced Work Packaging for LNG Export Projects

 

  • Hear how Advanced Work Packaging (AWP) can improve the delivery of LNG Export projects

  • How AWP can be applied to design, construction and commissioning

  • How AWP can be utilised to reduce project costs, shorten project duration, reduce project execution risks and increase project predictability

 

 

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Panel - LNG Project Decarbonisation, Driving Towards Net Zero LNG

 

  • Carbon Reduction Strategies – Evaluate the various ways in which project developers are integrating greener technology into their projects such as carbon capture and storage, sequestration, flaring reduction, bringing efficiencies from the renewable sector and digital led technology solution

  • Can the industry successfully deploy carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies at both a large enough scale and a low enough cost to make them viable?

  • Green Economics - How will these changes impact the economic model of your plants?  What will it take for buyers to be willing to step up and absorb those additional costs

  • Greenfield & Brownfield Assets – Assess the best approach for carbon reduction strategies on both green and brownfield projects

  • Carbon sequestration for LNG projects, what are the options?

 

 

 

Contracting & Risk Management

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Panel - Changing Contracting Models for LNG Export Projects

 

  • Understanding the current contractor market and which contractors are willing to do lump sum work on LNG Export projects

  • Changing Contracting Model - from lump sum turnkey to reimbursable & open book lump sum or other hybrid models and why that matters

  • How labor risk should be shared between owners and contractors

  • Risk Structure - How to create more fairness in the risk structure between operators and contractors in a highly volatile commodity pricing backdrop and is this possible when extensive Project Financing is required?

  • Lump Sum – How are the lenders looking at it?

  • What do EPC’s see owners getting wrong during the contracting phase and how to avoid these common pitfalls

  • Breaking the Cycle of “Someone Always Loses” – How to create a risk structure which is a “win-win” for all parties

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Supply Chain, Logistics & Procurement

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Panel - Supply Chain Perspectives from the Major OEM’s & Logistics Providers

 

  • Hear from the major OEM’s & Logistics providers on the steps they are taking to mitigate supply chain issues and mitigate volatility for supply chain & logistics

  • Get an up to date picture on their view of the supply chain and what is happening with lead times

  • Hear what impact they see a large amount of FID’s hitting the market impacting the supply chain

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How to Develop a Lean, Cost Efficient & Resilient Supply Chain in a hot construction market

 

  • How to effectively manage your supply chain in an environment where multiple mega projects under construction add complexity and risk

  • Strategies for developing lean, cost efficient and resilient supply chains to help LNG players successfully develop major LNG projects

  • Supplier Diversity – How the EPC contractors and owners are supporting small / historically underserved businesses and communities.

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Panel - Gas Supply & Infrastructure Challenges (Ethane / Ethylene / Nitrogen)

 

  • Engineering impacts of increasingly nitrogen heavy feedgas – will the suppliers remove the nitrogen upstream or will LNG exporters need to install the NRU at the plant? – how to effectively mitigate

  • Understand the feedgas mix is changing, what the production companies are doing to mitigate and what the long-term horizon looks like (are nitrogen and heavy components, CO2, and BTEX, Helium/hydrogen levels going to go up or down)

  • High purity Ethane / Ethylene & Nitrogen refrigerant supply – how are industrial gas suppliers going to ensure they are ahead of the curve to provide enough supply and the supporting pipeline & storage infrastructure for the LNG Export industry

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(Closed Doors Forum) – Supply Chain Procurement Owners Forum

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  • What procurement and contract management systems do you use?

  • What have you learnt?

  • What is your experience with system integrators/implementers, what is working for you or not? 

  • Information management - How do you hand over contract info? (construction to operations)

  • From what system to what system?

  • Should I keep my supply chain in house or outsource/offshore. Supply Chain talent challenges.

  • What tools are available to monitor and analyze multiple tier supplier risk. 

  • What are early impacts of AI on SCM? 

  • What data analytics solutions are available?

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Suppliers showcase (Expo Hall)

 

  • Forum for suppliers to showcase their products and services to supply chain and procurement professionals

  • Safety profile, tech profile, lessons learned from in the field

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Regulation, Permitting, Standards & Codes

 

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FERC Presentation

 

 

  • How FERC are working to prepare for the build out of LNG plants in the Gulf Coast from a project and operations perspective and how might this impact your project timelines

  • Decommissioning old regas facilities - What to do with these corroding and rusting assets.  The process to get rid of those facilities and the oversight

  • What do the regulators expect you to prepare for commissioning and start up & when you hit operations what do they expect

  • How FERC will work with the owner-operator on modifications (including debottlenecking) that will be required over a 20-30 year operating life of a plant

  • How to improve the process flow of documents between FERC and the owner to ensure your maintenance person has access to the latest documents and information

  • How can acceptance/approval of non-material changes from FERC filing (pre-FEED) to FEED be streamlined?

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LNG Project Regulation Panel Session

 

  • PHMSA, FERC, TCEQ, Coast Guard – Hear from the other key regulators on the steps they are taking to prepare for increased project development as well as the latest on updated codes and regulations that may impact your project planning

  • FERC, PHMSA, EPA, USCG feedback on permitting process and potential pitfalls  

  • How can acceptance/approval of non-material changes from FERC filing (pre-FEED) to FEED be streamlined?

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Codes and Standards

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LNG Engineering & Construction Standards & Codes Development Panel Session

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  • Industry Standards & Codes Updates – Updates and pending updates from the leading standards bodies including - API, NFPA & ASME that may impact future projects.

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(Closed Door Owner Forum) – Coalition / Subcommittee to Develop Industry Wide Standards

 

  • A unique forum for the USGC LNG industry owners to come together through the creation of a coalition / subcommittee to develop industry wide standards and codes that will streamline costs, reduce complexity, maximize safety, and allow industry partners to work with regulators in a more efficient and effective way on projects. 

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Operations, Maintenance, Commissioning & Turnaround Agenda 2024 

 

 

Efficiency and Quality in CSU Scheduling

 

Keynote  Project Leadership and Prerequisite Milestones

 

  • Alignment of Project Leadership for a Successful CSU: The critical role of project leadership in aligning CSU goals, ensuring quality, and controlling costs

  • Identification of Prerequisite Milestones: Defining key milestones that must be achieved before advancing to the next CSU phase

  • Case Studies: Real-world examples of projects that effectively balanced cost and quality in CSU scheduling, with a focus on leadership alignment

 

 

Session 1  Achieving Cost-Quality Balance in CSU Scheduling

 

  • Finding the Right Balance: Strategies for determining the optimal equilibrium between cost and quality in Commissioning and Startup (CSU) scheduling

  • Investing in Lessons Learned: The value of incorporating lessons learned from previous projects to enhance CSU planning and execution

  • Continuity of Commissioning Activities: Best practices to ensure a seamless transition between CSU phases, reducing disruptions and delays

  • Identifying and nurturing the required skillsets for an efficient CSU

 

Session 2  Cost-Quality Balance and Project Leadership in CSU

 

  • best practices in achieving a balance between cost and quality in CSU scheduling

  • Insights into how investment in lessons learned, alignment of project leadership, and identification of prerequisite milestones contribute to successful CSU

  • Sharing industry experiences and lessons from experts who have navigated CSU scheduling with a focus on cost-quality balance

 

Planning for Operations: Incorporating Operations into the design

 

 

Session 3  Early Integration of Operational Perspectives

 

  • Exploring the benefits of involving operational perspectives during the conceptual design, pre-FEED, and FEED phases

  • Highlighting real-world examples of how operational input improves project outcomes

  • Discussing the advantages of early collaboration between design and operations teams

  • Success stories of projects that integrated operational perspectives from the outset

 

 

Session 4  Building Robust Readiness Plans and EPC Integration

 

  • Best practices for building robust readiness plans during the FEED phase.

  • Strategies for seamlessly integrating readiness plans into EPC contracts.

  • Identifying the final scope and deliverables that should be included in EPC contracts to ensure operational success.

  • Case studies on projects that successfully integrated readiness plans into their EPC contracts.

 

Session 5  Leveraging Industry Expertise for Effective Integration

 

  • Defining the role of Operations Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) in LNG project phases

  • Discussing when to start including Operations SMEs for maximum impact on project planning

  • Panel discussion with industry experts and practitioners on leveraging industry expertise for enhanced project design

  • Exploring the dos and don'ts of incorporating operational perspectives

 

Operational Excellence, Maintenance & Reliability

 

Session 6: Achieving Excellence

 

  • Minimizing Maintenance Disruptions: Strategies and best practices to reduce unplanned maintenance events and improve operational continuity

  • Increasing Reliability and Trains Availability: Insights into enhancing the reliability of LNG trains and maximizing their availability for uninterrupted operations

  • Training for Excellence: Developing effective training programs and mentorship to foster a culture of excellence in maintenance and reliability

  • Defining Efficient Methodologies for CMMS Deployment

 

 

Session 7  Maintenance Management Strategies

 

  • Developing Maintenance Management Philosophies: The importance of defining clear principles to guide maintenance practices

  • Enhancing Preventive Maintenance (PM) Plans and Procedures: Strategies, plans and procedures to proactively address equipment reliability and performance

  • Strategizing Regulatory Compliance: Navigating the complex landscape of regulatory compliance in the LNG industry

 

Panel 1   Best Practices in Operational Excellence

 

  • A discussion on best practices and industry insights for achieving operational excellence, enhancing maintenance and reliability, and ensuring regulatory compliance in LNG projects

  • Sharing real-world case studies and lessons learned from successful maintenance and reliability initiatives

  • Addressing challenges in maintaining a high level of operational excellence

  • Operations and maintenance coordination and collaboration for excellence

 

Flaring strategies and environmental considerations

 

Session 8  Flaring Reduction Strategies

 

  • Technology and maintenance practices to reduce flaring

  • Exploring alternatives to traditional cooldown and flaring methodologies

  • Incorporating novel flaring strategies during the conceptual design phase

  • Industry case studies on successful flaring reduction and compliance initiatives

 

Session 9  Environmental Responsibility

 

  • BOG management: Electric versus GT-driven LNG trains - Advantages, challenges, and industry trends

  • Complying with existing and future regulations for environmental responsibility in LNG projects

  • Effective decarbonization measures and strategies to reduce the carbon footprint

  • LDAR programs: Breaking the status quo and adopting innovative practices for emissions control and compliance

 

 

Turnarounds and Asset Readiness

 

Session 10   Optimizing Turnarounds (TARs) in LNG Facilities

 

  • Defining the Critical Paths for TARs: Identifying key elements and stages for effective Turnarounds in LNG facilities

  • Designing LNG Trains with TARs Philosophy: Incorporating TARs considerations into the design phase

  • Resources Allocation for TARs: Dedicated Team or Pooling from Running Assets?

 

 

Session 11   Managing TAR Scope and Execution

 

  • Multi-train Facilities and TARs: Strategies and challenges in coordinating TARs for multi-train LNG facilities

  • TAR Scope Definition, Scheduling, and Execution Management: Best practices to optimize asset readiness

  • Case Studies: Real-world examples of successful TAR planning, execution, and lessons learned from LNG projects

 

Workshop   TAR Best Practices and Challenges

 

  • AP-Networks will facilitate a give-and-take session on the challenges faced by LNG facilities. Specific areas for discussion will include fit-for-purpose work processes, scope development, benchmarking, sustaining capital projects identification and integration, asset management and resourcing

 

Commissioning and Startup: Overcoming the challenges

 

Session 12   Developing Effective CSU Strategies

 

  • Defining versatile CSU strategies for LNG projects

  • Systemization and startup sequence

  • Division of responsibilities

  • Defining CSU scope during FEED to align with project goals

  • Modular versus Stick built: Adapting the CSU scope for different construction approaches

  • Managing CSU quality for modular LNG trains, ensuring a smooth transition from construction to operation

 

Session 13   CSU Management and Operational Readiness (OR)

 

  • Understanding CSU Completion Workflows: Best practices for managing the various stages of CSU

  • Exploring the main CSU management frameworks and their application to LNG projects

  • Devising a robust OR plan during the FEED phase for effective CSU

  • Navigating compliance requirements related to CSU and OR in the LNG industry.

 

 

Panel 3   Real-World CSU Challenges and Solutions

 

  • Case Studies: Learning from real-world CSU challenges and successes in LNG projects

  • Addressing unique CSU scenarios and finding practical solutions

  • Lessons Learned: Sharing insights on what worked and what didn't in CSU planning and execution

  • Industry Best Practices: Highlighting innovative approaches to streamline CSU processes and enhance LNG projects outcomes

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