This comprehensive course covers the complete spectrum of overpressure protection for many industries including chemical, mining, petrochemical oil and gas facilities in Alberta. You'll master the regulatory framework governing pressure equipment, learn to select and size relief devices correctly, and understand how to design compliant protection systems. The course combines theoretical foundations with practical applications, featuring real-world case studies, calculation examples, and hands-on problem-solving exercises plus a few tests.
Key topics include Alberta's Safety Codes Act requirements, ABSA and AER jurisdictions, API guidelines, relief device types and operation, relief device set pressures, sizing methodologies for various scenarios, installation best practices, hydraulic requirements for piping and comprehensive coverage of overpressure causes from blocked outlets to fire scenarios. You'll also learn about storage tank venting, advanced topics like ASME vs API differences, spec break requirements and how to prepare proper documentation for regulatory submission.
Why Attend?
Regulatory Compliance:
Alberta has some of the most demanding pressure equipment regulations globally. Non-compliance can result in project delays, costly redesigns, regulatory penalties, and potential shutdown orders. This course ensures you meet all ABSA and AER requirements from the design phase forward.
Safety and Risk Management:
Loss of containment due to overpressure represents one of the highest risk scenarios in oil and gas operations. Historical incidents have resulted in fatalities, environmental damage, and significant financial losses. Between 1870 and 1910 alone, over 10,000 pressure equipment explosions killed more than 10,000 people - leading to the formation of ABSA in 1912.
Financial Impact: Incorrect relief device sizing or improper protection methods can lead to:
- Inadequately protected equipment causing catastrophic failures
- Oversized equipment resulting in unnecessary capital costs
- Project delays from regulatory rejections
- Operational disruptions from spurious relief activations
- Potential reserve write-downs from unattainable production forecasts
Professional Development:
Overpressure protection expertise is critical for career advancement in process engineering roles. This specialized knowledge distinguishes competent engineers and is essential for Professional Engineer licensure and project leadership positions.
Operational Excellence: Properly designed overpressure protection systems minimize operational upsets, reduce maintenance costs, extend equipment life, and improve overall facility reliability. Understanding these systems enables better troubleshooting and optimization decisions.
"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
