The midstream energy sector needs an array of skills and expertise to work, which is why organizers of the GPA Midstream Association Convention plan three tracks of programming. Learn more about the schedule.
At the San Antonio convention Sept. 22-25, attendees will have options to attend presentations focusing on commercial aspects of the industry, the technical side or advocacy issues that guide the future of regulating midstream operations. The tracks were designed by the member-driven Program Committee.
The Commercial Track takes on some of the biggest industry issues for in-depth discussion through roundtables and standalone sessions based on membership feedback, said Melodi Foster, GPA Midstream Director of Meeting and Events.
The topics are whittled down from a host of proposed subjects based on the question “what are the people in your company talking about that would pique your interest?” Foster said.
The Executive Roundtable is moderated by GPA Midstream President and CEO Joel Moxley at 3:30 p.m. Monday and will focus on the landscape of talent in the industry for midstream expansion.
This year also sees the return of last year’s roundtable on CO2 and hydrogen. Included on the panel are Jaclyn Presnal, vice president of New Energy Ventures for Williams and Spencer Crouch, senior program manager for the BKV Corp.
“Everyone wants to talk about carbon capture and sequestration,” said David Beck, managing partner at Audubon Engineering Cos., who spearheaded planning for the Commercial Track. Beck serves as chair of GPA Midstream’s Facility, Design, Operation and Maintenance Committee and sits on the GPSA Midstream board of directors.
Beck said both roundtables were big draws for convention goers in 2023 and he believes that a third roundtable focused on exports is a hot topic this year. “U.S. midstream focus is not necessarily all domestic these days,” he said.
Other Commercial Track topics include “Market Instability and the Delicate Natural Gas Supply and Demand Balance: Why Volatility Will Be a Constant in the Years Ahead” with Jack Weixel of East Daley Analytics” and “Questioning Your High Carbon Lifestyle” with Jason Isaac from the American Energy Institute. Mergers and acquisitions and LNG growth to 2030 also will be up for discussion.
The Technical Track includes presentations that were chosen from 80 submitted abstracts, Foster said.
Technical forums include process and research, facility design alongside operation and maintenance, natural gas treating, and greenhouse gas measurement and abatement.
In a change from previous years, all Technical forums will be held in the Marriott Rivercenter along with the rest of the convention meetings, instead of at Marriott Riverwalk across the street.
The Advocacy Track is focused on informing membership of the laws affecting the industry, how that plays out in the agency rulemaking process and how to comply with regulations.
Advocacy Track forums include safety and reliability, pipeline safety and environmental issues. Many of the topics addressed are highly technical in nature and critical to compliance, but the track’s Environmental Forum on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. seeks to answer the big question: “Can We Spend Fast Enough to Achieve Sustainability Goals.”
Outside the tracks on Tuesday, there are five sponsored “Lunch and Learn” presentations to chose from at noon including “CO2 Composition and Quality Challenges,” “Mastering High Speed Reciprocating Compressors with Eco-friendly Electric Motors & VFDs,” and “UNLOCK Your Safety Culture Potential.”
Register now before prices go up on August 21.
