MCGPA 2025 Tulsa Natural Gas Symposium

REGISTRATION OPEN!

MCGPA 2025 Tulsa Natural Gas Symposium
The GPA Midstream Midcontinent Chapter will be hosting its Natural Gas Symposium on Thursday, July 31, 2025 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa. This event will have six technical presentations regarding various aspects of midstream facilities. See the agenda below for the specific topics and speakers. PDH hours will be available at the end of the event.

Details & Pricing

Date: Thursday, July 31, 2025
Time: Registration & Breakfast is from 7:30am-8:30am
Conference is from 8:30am-4:00pm
Where: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 777 W Cherokee St, Catoosa, OK 74015 (room discounts will be shared when finalized)
Cost to Attend: $50 for corporate or individual members / $100 for non-members

Agenda

7:30 – 8:30am: Registration & Breakfast
8:30 – 8:35am: Welcome
8:35 – 9:20am:
Speaker: Emily Ruhl, Tray Technology Specialist, Koch Engineering Solutions
Title: Visual Methods to Evaluate Tray Performance
Description:  When it comes to distillation tower internals, choosing between improved capacity, improved separation efficiency, extended operating range, reduced energy consumption/lower carbon footprint, and improved mechanical reliability requires engineering decisions that often result in compromises being made. The choice of which valve type to use is an important part of the tray design that will affect how these design goals are met.
9:20 – 9:45am: Coffee Break
9:45 – 10:30am:
Speaker: Jeff Boyle, VP, Business Development & Marketing, Vintri Technologies Inc.
Title: Leveraging AI to Accelerate Your MAOP and TVC Initiatives 
Description:  As regulatory expectations around MAOP validation and TVC (Traceable, Verifiable, and Complete) data continue to grow, AI is playing a transformative role in how midstream operators manage pipeline integrity and compliance. In this session, Jeff Boyle of Vintri Technologies will demonstrate how AI is transforming the way operators handle unstructured records—such as MTRs, weld logs, and P&IDs—with unmatched speed and accuracy compared to manual or OCR-based methods. The presentation will outline Vintri’s AI-driven workflow, including: Document classification across a wide range of formats and record types, Automated ingestion and extraction from PDFs and other unstructured sources, and Accessibility checks to flag missing or incomplete data
10:30 – 11:15am:
Speaker: Darrell Meinen, VP of Engineering Solutions/Principal Engineer, Equity Engineering and Tylor Rowland Engineer II, Equity Engineering
Title: How implementing API 579 as a best practice can extend the life of midstream assets
Description: This presentation will explore the alignment between ASME FFS-1 / API-579 and other industry-accepted methodologies such as ASME B31G, Modified B31G, and RSTRENG. It will also highlight the enhanced capabilities of API-579 in extending equipment life and inspection intervals—while maintaining safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance. First published in 2002, ASME FFS-1/API 579 is widely recognized across the refining and petrochemical sectors as the leading standard for Fitness-for-Service (FFS) assessments. While not explicitly referenced in 49 CFR Parts 192 or 195, FFS evaluations performed in accordance with API 579 can satisfy the core requirements of an Engineering Critical Assessment (ECA), thus qualifying as a computational methodology under the regulatory framework
11:15am – 1:00pm: Chapter Update, Lifetime Achievement Award, Lunch
1:00 – 1:45pm:
Speaker: Valmir Andrade, Wolong Electric America
Title: Torsional Dynamics and Impacts of High-Speed (1800 RPM) Electric Motors in Reciprocating Compressors
Description: Traditionally, reciprocating compressors have operated with electric motors limited to 900 RPM. However, recent advancements in compressor design and materials have enabled the adoption of high-speed electric motors operating at 1800 RPM. While this shift supports higher throughput and more compact installations, it also introduces new mechanical challenges. This paper investigates the internal mechanical impacts of high-speed motor integration, focusing on torsional forces transmitted through the shaft and the resulting angular acceleration stresses on the motor rotor. These dynamic effects can lead to increased vibration, fatigue, and potential resonance issues if not properly addressed during the system design phase. A critical review of current engineering standards—such as API 541 and related torsional analysis was used in this document, along with a discussion of their applicability to modern high-speed systems. The study includes comparisons between analytical models and real-world test data from selected case studies, highlighting the importance of accurate modeling and validation.
1:45 – 2:30pm:
Speaker: Jarred J. Peer, Storage Operator & Dehydration Analyst, ONEOK
Title: Technical Troubleshooting and common operations issues
Description: Poor Dehydration Performance can be caused by insufficient glycol concentration, low levels, plugged equipment, insufficient gas-glycol contact, and hydrate formation. This presentation will cover common operational issues and provide technical, in-depth solutions based on issue at hand.
2:30 – 3:00pm: Dessert Break
3:00 – 3:45pm:
Speaker: Dan Hagemann, Submar, LLC
Title: Remediation of Exposed Pipelines
3:45 – 4:00pm: Closing Remarks
4:00pm: HAPPY HOUR:
“Roll the Dice” and Network: Join us for drinks and good company at the Hardrock Hotel & Casino event room. Don’t miss the chance to win! Door prizes will be given away during the event.

Our Speakers

Sponsorship Opportunities

Premier Event Sponsor: $2,500 (1 Available)

1 complementary booth & 5 general admission event tickets
Exclusive placement on print marketing
Marketing material placement with attendees during conference
Website recognition – primary placement on website

Happy Hour Sponsor: $2,000 (1 Available)

5 general admission event tickets
Exclusive placement on print marketing @ happy hour venue
Marketing material placement with attendees during conference prior to happy hour
Website recognition – primary placement on website and brochure

Lunch Sponsor: $1,500 (0 Available)

Breakfast Sponsor: $1,000(0 Available)

Coffee Sponsor: $500 (0 Available)

Dessert Sponsor: $500 (1 Available)

General Event Sponsor: $250 (Unlimited)

Recognition on website and print materials

For other event-related questions, please reach out to: Bret Hunter at bret.hunter@energytransfer.com