Process Optimization & Troubleshooting Techniques for SAGD Processes
A Way to Improve Productivity and Efficiency

High process variability compromises the economic performance of SAGD processes through off-quality products and reduced process efficiency. Upgrading controller tuning, control valve response, and control strategies are relatively easy pathways to reducing variability on key SAGD loops, thereby improving overall process performance. Improving the troubleshooting skills of process control personnel is another pathway to improved performance via quick and effective responses to control loop problems.  

The course is conducted at a hotel conference facility. The class size is limited to 8 students.  


Topics covered include:
  • Process Variability
  • Process Dynamics
  • Control Loop Performance
  • Impact of Process Design
  • Identifying Process Variability
  • Attenuating Disturbances
  • Troubleshooting Loop Problems
  • Managing Process Variability

Speakers

Tyler Rushfeldt

Tyler Rushfeldt, P.Eng. has over 10 years’ experience across various aspects of the pipeline industry, notably steady state and transient hydraulics and currently specializing in pressure control applications

Doug Nelson

Doug Nelson has over 30 years of pulp and paper process control experience. He has authored papers on paper machine dryer control, control valve selection and the uses of process simulation in optimization surveys.

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Course Availability

Registration Options
September 18 - 21, 2023

Payment Acknowledgement
Yes

Agenda
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
• Sources of variability • Cost of variability • Minimizing variability
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
• Control terminology • Loop Components • Control loop block diagram
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
• Process and Control simulation
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
• Open Loop bump tests • 1st Order response • Integrating response • Non-linearities
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
4:30 PM
4:30 PM
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
• PID algorithm • Lambda tuning procedures for first order, integrating loops • Lambda selection • Robustness • Filtering
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
1:00 PM - 4:30 PM
1:00 PM - 4:30 PM
• 1st Order Loops • Integrating Loops
4:30 PM
4:30 PM
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
• Setpoint and Load response • Attenuation capabilities, Bode plots • Impact of Non-linearities
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
• Cascade, Ratio, Feedforward • Identifying Opportunities • Developing tuning strategies
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
• Data collection fundamentals • Descriptive statistics • Time series analysis techniques
4:30 PM
4:30 PM
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
• Identifying the problem source • Developing a solution
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
• Economic benefits • Technical/organizational issues • Survey procedures
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
4:30 PM
4:30 PM
Sponsors
About the Course
About the Course

This four-day course is intended to strengthen the student's ability to optimize process performance.

The first half of the course focuses on improving control loop performance. The measurement of process dynamics and Lambda tuning are the key topics.

The second half of the course focuses on troubleshooting techniques, and management approaches to maintaining a low variability operation.

SAGD process and control systems are used throughout the lectures to illustrate the course concepts. Approximately 30% of the course is devoted to a simulation lab where the course concepts are practised. 


Course Fees
Course Fees
CDN $2,800.00 

(Canadian Taxes Included.)
Fees include a full set of course notes.

The course is conducted at a hotel conference facility. The class size is limited to 8 students.  
Who Should Attend

The course is primarily intended for process engineers, instrumentation engineers, and operations management personnel who want to improve their ability to troubleshoot process control and variability problems. The course explores the implications of process equipment and therefore would be beneficial for maintenance and design engineers.

Who Should Attend
Course Location

The course is being held at a conference facility. Attendees are responsible for arranging their own accommodations.

Accommodations

For convenience, we recommend that registrants stay at the hotel course site.