PROGRAM of COKE DRUM FORUM 2026 
(PRELIMINARY- Subject to change)

• KEYNOTE: The Heavy Crude Renaissance: Myth, Reality, or the Next Refining Advantage? Rajesh Samarth, Chief Executive Officer, Chevron Lummus Global
• API 934J / 934G and industry survey update, Julian Bedoya, ExxonMobil
• API 579 update, Antonio Seijas, Phillips66
• Coke Drum Crack Repairs and Their Effect on Drum Life Assessment, Mike Schmidt, CHS
• Restoring Reliability: Technical Perspectives on Coke Drum Repair, Mark Geisenhoff, Flint Hills
• Dealing with Coke Drums with Significant Bulging, Wang, Kleinhenz, and Ganhao, Motiva
• Managing coke drum internal fires; short term and long term actions, Antonio Seijas, Phillips66
• Designing a Reliable Coke Drum: Thoughts on a Design and an Update on Fabrication Progress, Brent Ray, Marathon
• Weld overlay inspection using the Surface Roughness Index (SRI)- Verification using Fatigue Test Results, Mahmod Samman, HES
• TUTORIAL: Acoustic Emission Testing- Understanding the limitations 
• PANEL: Skirt designs and failures
• PANEL: Weld overlay repairs
• PANEL: Experience with various metallurgies (Carbon-Mo, Chrome-Mo drums, etc.)
• PANEL: Impact of feed inlet types on mechanical integrity
• Round Table: Questions and answers from all attendees
• OPTIONAL One-Day Training (Separate registration) Mechanical Integrity and Reliability of Coke Drums, Wednesday Dec. 2, 2026

The Keynote:
The Heavy Crude Renaissance: Myth, Reality, or the Next Refining Advantage?
Mr. Rajesh Samarth, Chief Executive Officer of Chevron Lummus Global, will discuss how evolving geopolitical risks, shifting crude trade flows, and the re-emergence of Venezuelan heavy crude are reshaping the competitive landscape for North American refiners. The presentation examines why heavy crude remains strategically important despite strong U.S. shale production, how Canada and Venezuela may influence future heavy crude availability, and why the U.S. Gulf Coast remains uniquely positioned to benefit from these developments through its extensive conversion and upgrading infrastructure.
The presentation highlights that the heavy crude renaissance is ultimately a conversion capacity and reliability story rather than simply a crude supply story. As refiners process heavier and more challenging feedstocks, delayed cokers, coke drum reliability, digitalization, and mechanical integrity programs become increasingly important to capturing value. The presentation concludes that conversion capacity is the new competitive advantage and that refiners who successfully integrate feedstock strategy, operational excellence, and asset reliability will be best positioned to capitalize on the next refining advantage.