Process Plant Start-Up, Commissioning and Troubleshooting

Start Date End Date Venue Fees (US $)
01 Feb 2026 Tunisia $ 4,500 Register
28 Jun 2026 Jakarta, Indonesia $ 5,000 Register
04 Oct 2026 Roma, Italy $ 4,950 Register

Process Plant Start-Up, Commissioning and Troubleshooting

Introduction

The aim of this course is to provide participants with a complete and up-to-date overview of the start-up and commissioning of petrochemical plants. 
The course will also cover the troubleshooting of the start-up process. Upon the successful completion of this course, participants will gain enough skills to anticipate and avoid all problems associated with such a start-up process. Further, this course will provide participants with a satisfactory understanding of the Crude Distillation Operation & Troubleshooting, Management & organizational issues, estimations of required resources, CPM planning, Mechanical integrity, troubleshooting, Start-Up Operations, Technical Inspection, Instrumentation/Control systems, HSE, Systems of Hysis or Aspen Tech. 
Simulation models on crude distillation columns, which is could be improved the distillation columns operations and much other necessary knowledge associated with the petrochemical plant start-up and commissioning. Actual case studies from around the world will be demonstrated to highlight the topics discussed.

Objectives

    • Crude Distillation operation & troubleshooting
    • Optimization of distillation columns operation (e.g. atmospheric and vacuum columns)
    • Management of distillation columns revamps (e.g. atmospheric and vacuum columns)
    • New Technologies applied to distillation columns
    • Methods of enhancing distillation columns operation and improving products yields and quality
    • De-bottlenecking of distillation columns (e.g. atmospheric and vacuum columns) for yield maximization and quality improvement.
    • “State of the art” distillation columns (e.g. modern columns) and their operation and benefits
    • Distillation columns internals description, latest types, performance, method of calculation, etc.
    • Systems that can be improved/added/deleted to enhance the distillation columns operation (e.g. atmospheric and vacuum columns).
    • Hysis or Aspen Tech. Simulation models on crude distillation columns.

Training Methodology

This is an interactive course. There will be open question and answer sessions, regular group exercises and activities, videos, case studies, and presentations on best practice. Participants will have the opportunity to share with the facilitator and other participants on what works well and not so well for them, as well as work on issues from their own organizations.

Who Should Attend?

Team Leaders, Project Managers, Refinery Managers, Plant Managers, Section Heads, Plant Supervisors, Process Engineers, technical staff and contractor personnel involved in project execution and plant start-up in the Petrochemical industry. Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation and Control Engineers who are involved in Process Plant Startup and Commissioning will benefit from this advanced course.

Course Outline

Day 1:

  • Introduction & Welcome
  • Introduction to Petrochemical Plant Start-up: Terminology; Startup requirements, Project details; Contractual obligations, Organizational structure & responsibilities, Successful measures, Problems associated with Startup and avoidance process
  • Crude Distillation operation & troubleshooting
  • Optimization of distillation columns operation (e.g. atmospheric and vacuum columns)
  • Case Studies & Discussion

Day 2:   

  • Management of distillation columns revamps (e.g. atmospheric and vacuum columns)
  • Health, Safety & Environment: Risk Assessment, Safety Training, HSE Problems and contingency plans; Safety Procedures and implementations, ISO 18001, ISO 14001 and other international standards, Safety Manual and Hazardous Operational Analysis.
  • Petrochemical Plant Start-Up Management: Responsibilities & Authorities; Organizational Structure; Manpower & Staffing, Coordination Procedures, Leadership
  • Petrochemical Plant Commissioning Strategy

Day 3:

  • New Technologies applied to distillation columns
  • Technical Inspection & Testing
  • Methods of enhancing distillation columns operation and improving products yields and quality
  • State of the art” distillation columns (e.g. modern columns) and their operation and benefits

Day 4:

  • Start-Up Operations: Preparing and Isolating Petrochemical Plant, The Initial Start-Up Activities; Maintaining Forward Momentum; Test Run Preparation and Performance
  • Start-Up Progress Monitoring, Instrumentation and Control
  • Troubleshooting & Problem Solving: Identification of Problems &Priorities; Resource Allocation & Teamwork; Data Collection & Solution Selection, Advanced Troubleshooting Techniques, RCFA & RCM
  • Case Studies & Discussion

Day 5:

  • Hysis or Aspen Tech. Simulation models on crude distillation columns
  • Break
  • All Systems that can be improved/added/deleted to enhance the distillation columns operation (e.g. atmospheric and vacuum columns).
  • Open Forum
  • Presentation of Certificates

Accreditation

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