Overpressure protection is critical to regulatory compliance, facility safety, risk reduction, and operational reliability. Inadequate protection resulting in loss of containment can harm people, damage equipment, and cause environmental impacts, leading to regulatory rejection, project delays, costly redesign, and unnecessary capital or maintenance costs.
Well-designed protection systems help reduce operational upsets, improve troubleshooting, extend equipment life, and support better engineering decisions throughout the facility lifecycle.
This 2-day comprehensive course blends regulatory context, engineering fundamentals, design practices, and real-world examples to provide the knowledge and confidence to design, evaluate, and document overpressure protection systems in pipeline and non-pipeline facilities that meet Alberta's regulatory expectations.
Through technical instruction, case studies, calculation examples, hands-on problem-solving, and short knowledge checks, participants will explore the full overpressure protection lifecycle, from regulatory requirements and design basis development to relief device sizing, installation, and documentation. Topics include ABSA and AER expectations, API guidance, ASME and API differences, specification break requirements, relief valve and rupture disc applications, storage tank venting, piping hydraulic limits, multiple relief scenarios, and practical design examples.
By the end of the course, participants will be better prepared to identify overpressure hazards, apply applicable codes and guidance, make defensible design decisions, and contribute to safer, more reliable, and more compliant pressure equipment systems. Participants will leave with practical insight they can apply to current projects, facility reviews, and regulatory submissions.
This course is ideal for Process, Mechanical, Project, Operations, and Safety Engineers; Engineering Technologists; Facility Managers; regulatory affairs personnel; maintenance supervisors; and commercial team members evaluating pressure equipment risks.
"Useful material, especially all of the documents/course material that come with the course. Keith is very experienced and knowledgable of codes, technical applications, etc."
- Project Engineer
"A lot of information, but overall a great course. Great instructor, great information packet. "
- Project Engineer
"The course had a very good outline which I was really interested in and Keith delivered the course material expertly and in an engaging manner.
I was impressed with the content, organization of the course material and Keith's presenting style and mastery of the topic."
- Process Engineer
"Good overview of all major topics associated with PSVs. Definitely got what I wanted out of the course.
Keith's presentations were very well put together. Lots of good resources were provided as part of the course, which will be invaluable to refer back to in the future."
- Facilities Engineer
"Course was well organized and presented in proper order. Instructor was obviously very knowledgeable on the material. Good to see real scenarios and applications. Overall course was good and provided valuable training that I will continue to use at work."
- Operations Engineer
"Course was well structured covering all the important parts. Learnt a lot of stuff during this course."
- Junior Engineer
"Thought it was a great course. Great balance between theory and examples."
- Facilities Engineer
"My overall impression of the course was good. I think this course have very relevant material to the Engineers at (In-house client) and was worth taking. You picked the right instructor for the course. Keith knows his material well and is easy to approach for questions. The examples used in class were also good. The materials provided after the course is relevant and should be useful for my career."
- Process EIT
"Keith is very knowledgable and has answered any questions that were put forward. Instruction was clear and concise, content was focused."
- Project Engineer
"Keith has vast knowledge and demonstrates great passion for teaching. I appreciate his ability to keep a very dry subject engaging and approachable with humour and practical examples."
- Chief Power Engineer
"Very informative for a Project Engineer/Manager aspect. Good examples"
- Project Manager/Engineer
"Very informative. Good explanations of everything. Will be recommending Progress to my colleagues. Instructor was amazing and course notes were phenomenal."
- Production Engineer
"Was well done. Keith was a great instructor and taught with enthusiasm. Was well paced out and covered all expected material."
- Facilites EIT
"It is a good guide to work on relief valve calculations and sizing. "
- Sr. Process Engineer
"Great course. Instructor very knowledgable and open to answer diverse questions from all participants. "
- Senior Mechanical Engineer
"Awesome course. Keith is so experienced, really good teacher, industry experience, passioned about chemical engineering. I really enjoyed the course. I will keep taking more courses with him."
- Process Engineer
"Very well run and organized. Course notes were very useful as well as other documents. Keith was a great instructor and kept things engaging."
- Anon.
"A lot of really valuable info. In depth overview of everything OPP.
Good instructor, great notes, lots of examples and worksheets."
- Facilities EIT
"Very well done, helpful content."
- EIT
"The course had a large amount of material to get through and was very comprehensive. Great instruction and resource material."
- EIT
"This course was a very well structured introduction to overpressure protection that helps both young professionals and experienced individuals in the industry. Knowledgable instructor, excellent content and the technical calcs were well explained."
- Innovation Engineer
"Highly technical, super informative."
- Facilities EIT
"Very informational. Great overview of codes and acts and applications. Instructor was great.
Great technical info."
- EIT, Process Design
"Great coverage of applicable codes and standards regarding OPP with a good mix of examples, quizzes and media."
- Pipeline Integrity EIT
"Keith is funny, content is well organized, extremely knowledgable. "
- Innovation EIT
"The course had great/important content. I think every EIT should take it."
- Project EIT
"Best course I've taken so far with Progress Seminars because it's so relevant to my position. Great overview of overpressure protection and references all the important codes and standards needed.
Great organization, going step-by-step on how to approach OPP. Introduction of all the relevant regulations and code requirements was fantastic because there are so many regs that its difficult to know them all w/o prior experience.
Keith has a great humour and is great at explaining."
- Facilities EIT
"Content was very applicable to my current role at (In-house client)."
- Facilities Engineering
"Met expectations. instructor knowledge and course content covered all topics I was hoping to discuss"
- Project Engineer
"Excellent!"
- Mechanical Engineer
"It was a really good course."
- Process Engineer
"Very detailed and informative. Introduction to some great tools."
- Production Operations Manager
"Very well sequenced and prepared. Very thorough. Content was great."
- Ops Engineer
"Good overview of concepts. Engaging and entertaining instructor."
- Facilities Engineering Manager
"Excellent detail and a large amount of examples to draw information from.
Keith is very knowledgable, and has extensive experience to answer questions. Great resource materials as well."
- Production Engineering Tech.
"Great! Good flow and speed, good amount of content for retention, and plenty of material for me to shore up the learnings with if I ever have some free time. Keith is very knowledgable. Great discussion."
- Engineering Manager
"Really good. I really wanted a review on the regulations/codes and where to reference material and this course was great for that.
Instructor was great. Content was super detailed and thorough. Lots of reference materials which I can look back on."
- Anon.
"So much data in such a short time. Real examples, keeping tone nerdy but funny and interesting! Engaging."
- Technical Manager/ Chief Inspector
"This has been an excellent course. I very much appreciate the pace and detail this covered. I very much appreciated the excel sheet examples and calculations as well. Keith was excellent."
- Project Manager/Engineer
"Good content and takeaways. "
- HSE Program Manager
"The course content was very useful and Keith is a very engaging instructor and gives good answers to any questions.
The course was a good mixture of codes, theory and real examples."
- Project Engineer
"Course overall was very interesting. Some areas were a bit dry, but Keith did a good job making the course engaging and did a great job with the structure. "
- Project Engineer
"Very good technical course on OPP. Very informative course and practical sizing examples."
- Process EIT
"The instructor did a good job at making dry material more interesting. The resources provided are great and will help lots."
- Operations EIT
"Great Course. Lots of great information that is applicable to my job."
- Operations Tech
