2010 Q&A and Technology Forum

Sunday, October 10 - Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Marriott Baltimore Waterfront Hotel
700 Aliceanna Street
Baltimore 21202-4339

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The NPRA block at the Marriott is now closed.

The Q&A and Technology Forum program has four major components to give attendees the industry's most comprehensive meeting on refinery operations and process technology: the Q&A Panel Sessions, the Principles & Practices Sessions, and the Plant Automation/Decision Support Sessions, and, due to positive response last year, we are again offering a table top exhibition. This exhibition will showcase catalyst, chemical, and technology providers, engineering companies, licensors and other industry suppliers in one convenient location.

To get an idea of what's in store this year, you can click on the View Schedule of Events link above.

The Q&A Sessions on Hydroprocessing, FCC, Crude/Vacuum Distillation & Coking, and Gasoline Processes feature panels of industry experts from refining companies and technology providers who respond to questions and engage attendees in a discussion of today's tough issues.

The Principles & Practices(P&P) Sessions on Energy, Hydroprocessing, FCC, Crude/Vacuum Distillation & Coking, and Gasoline Processes are discussion-oriented sessions, primarily designed for the engineer whose overall operating experience is less than 20 years. The P&P sessions complement the information exchange that occurs in the Q&A sessions. Each of the sessions addresses the fundamentals of good operation and the foundational principles for the technologies that are commonly employed. These sessions have short presentations followed by a time where attendees can ask further questions or present their own particular problems and benefit from the collective experience of the other attendees.

The Plant Automation & Decision Support sessions will address the latest developments in cyber security, process control, plant automation, and the supporting information technology systems.

Post-Conference Refining Technology Seminars will be held Wednesday afternoon between 12:00 and 5:00 pm. Please contact the host company via the links below for more information.

Fundamentals of Desalter Operation presented by Baker Hughes, Larry Kremer
Hydrogen Plant Seminar and Q&A presented by Sud-Chemie, Ross Brunson.

Save $100 off full conference registration by registering by September 10th. On-line registration closes October 1.

Related Web Pages and Sites:
2010 QA Exhibitor List
Speaker Information
Apply for a Tabletop Space

Related Files:

Press Registration Policy

Press Registration Request Form

Plant Automation Session Agenda

2010 Q&A Session Questions

2010 Exhibitor Prospectus

2010 Final Attendee List

Registration Includes:

Full registration includes admission to the General and Breakout Sessions, the luncheons Monday and Tuesday in the exhibit hall and the Reception Monday evening in the exhibit hall.

Who Should Attend:

Young engineers, seasoned professionals, process technology specialists, and mid-to-upper level managers from operating plants and headquarters, as well as supplier companies.

Individuals responsible for plant automation, process control, planning and scheduling, IT, modeling/simulation professionals, refinery and petrochemical engineers and consultants should plan on attending the plant automation sessions as well as the technology forum.

Meeting Attire:

Business casual - shirts with collars; no ties, jeans, sneakers or shorts.

Fee Structure:
In order to encourage NPRA attendees to use the contracted hotel block at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront, a tiered registration fee structure will be in effect this year. Registrants occupying a hotel room at the Marriott will pay a registration fee $200 less than those registrants who choose to stay at an alternate hotel. Local commuter registrants, of course, will not be assessed the surcharge.

Register by September 10 to receive Early registration fees. On September 11, full registration fees increase by $100, Monday/Tuesday one-day passes increase by $50, and Wednesday one-day passes increase by $25.

Registration Fees: These fees are available through 10/04/2010
Name	Price	Available To
Member Registration - Late - hotel reservation in NPRA block	$675.00	Members
Member Registration - Late - hotel reservation NOT in NPRA block	$875.00	Members
Non-Member Registration - Late - hotel reservation in NPRA block	$1,245.00	NonMember
Non-Member Registration - Late - hotel reservation NOT in NPRA block	$1,445.00	NonMember
Spouse Registration	$100.00

Special Events
Name	Price	Available To
One Day Pass - Monday - hotel reservation in NPRA block
Non-Member - 1-Day - Late - hotel reservation in NPRA block	$625.00
One Day Pass - Monday - hotel reservation NOT in NPRA block
Member - 1-Day - Late - hotel reservation NOT in NPRA block	$450.00
Non-Member - 1-Day - Late - hotel reservation NOT in NPRA block	$725.00
One Day Pass - Tuesday - hotel reservation in NPRA block
Member - 1-Day - Late - hotel reservation in NPRA block	$350.00
Non-Member - 1-Day - Late - hotel reservation in NPRA block	$625.00
One Day Pass - Tuesday - hotel reservation NOT in NPRA block
Member - 1-Day - Late - hotel reservation NOT in NPRA block	$450.00
Non-Member - 1-Day - Late - hotel reservation NOT in NPRA block	$725.00
One Day Pass - Wednesday - hotel reservation in NPRA block
Member - 1-Day - Late - hotel reservation in NPRA block	$175.00
Non-Member - 1-Day - Late - hotel reservation in NPRA block	$315.00
One Day Pass - Wednesday - hotel reservation NOT in NPRA block
Member - 1-Day - Late - hotel reservation NOT in NPRA block	$225.00
Non-Member - 1-Day - Late - hotel reservation NOT in NPRA block	$365.00

Cancellation and Other Policies:

Please note: ALL exhibitors must register for the conference. NO complimentary booth passes are included in the booth fee. See conference registration fees on page 3 of the Exhibit Prospectus.

By registering for this meeting you signify that you have read, understand, and agree to abide by NPRA's policies on registration, housing, cancellation, spouse/guest registration, and fees.

REGISTRATION POLICY: Those who are present at the site of an NPRA meeting and/or occupy a hotel room in the NPRA room block to conduct business with industry personnel gathered for that meeting are expected to register for that meeting and pay the registration fee, whether or not they attend a specific function.

FEE POLICY: Eligibility for member rates is based on membership information currently on file with NPRA. If your company is not currently a member, the non-member fees will be charged to your credit card.

SPOUSE/GUEST POLICY: A guest is a spouse/significant other, friend or an adult child (18 years old or older) who is not in an industry-related occupation. A co-worker, an associate or spouse who works within the industry may not use the Spouse/Guest Registration category. Guests are not permitted to work the table-top exhibit. Children under 18 are not permitted in the exhibit hall.

CANCELLATION POLICY: Registration cancellations may be made on-line or submitted in writing, faxed to 202.835.0467 or e-mailed to QA@npra.org. Substitute conference registrations may be made in advance or on arrival with no penalty. Substitutions must be submitted in writing to QA@npra.org.

Cancellations may be made by September 10, 2010 with no penalty. Written cancellations postmarked, faxed, or emailed between September 11 and 24, 2010 will receive a refund of fees, less a $50 processing fee. No refunds after September 24, 2010. No telephone cancellations.

ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY AND PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL CONDUCT CODE

The National Petrochemical and Refiners Association (“NPRA”) has adopted the following “Ethical Responsibility and Professional and Personal Conduct Code” (hereinafter, “the Code”). Every member of NPRA, their designated representatives, and non-member attendees at all NPRA meetings and forums agree to abide by the Code as a condition of membership in NPRA and attendance and participation at NPRA meetings and forums.

The Code requires the following of all individuals attending NPRA meetings and forums:

• Adherence to the NPRA bylaws and the NPRA policies and procedures, as adopted by NPRA’s Board of Directors.
• Strict compliance with federal antitrust laws.
• Adherence to all applicable federal and state laws.
• Maintenance of the highest level of professional and personal ethical behavior while attending NPRA meetings and forums.
• Prevention of certain behaviors, including harassment, violence, intimidation and discrimination of any kind involving race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability or, where applicable, veteran or marital status.
• Assurance that conduct at all times and in all professional and personal dealings with each other and other attendees with the highest level of integrity and courtesy.
• Sharing of knowledge and expertise as speakers at NPRA educational events and sessions whenever practicable, without soliciting or explicitly promoting their own organization's products or services.
• Working to instill public and consumer confidence in the petrochemical and refining industries, its member companies, and its professionals, avoiding any action conducive to discrediting members of NPRA.
• Refraining from scheduling general attendance meetings, receptions or other events at times that conflict with substantive programming or social events at NPRA meetings without express written permission of NPRA.

Failure to abide by the Code may result, for the first offense, in informal censure of a company or individual by the NPRA Executive Committee. If violations of the Code continue after such an informal censure, a company may be subject to expulsion from NPRA, or an individual to exclusion from participation in NPRA activities, by the Board of Directors.

ENTERTAINMENT POLICY: We ask your cooperation in observing Association policy on activities held in conjunction with any NPRA meeting:
Meetings or social activities should not be scheduled that take registrants away from NPRA programs and NPRA-sponsored activities;

* Any company sponsoring a function to which 25 or more people are invited should outline its plans for advance approval by NPRA. In general, such functions will be approved if they do not unduly take registrants away from NPRA-sponsored activities;
* All representatives of companies sponsoring hospitality activities are expected to register for the meeting;
* Hospitality suites are expected to close by 1:00 a.m.;
* Food, beverage and service personnel (bartenders, hostesses, etc.) must be obtained through the hotel catering department;
* Suite promotional activities are to avoid the use of elaborate entertainment, expensive door prizes, suite attendance solicitation by individuals who are not full-time employees of the sponsoring company, or other similar activities.

Is Media Allowed?

Yes

Travel Information:

AVIS is the official rental car agency for the QA. Call 800-331-1600 and refer to AWD#:B761399 to receive discounted rates.