**This course will finish at 12pm on the last day. Lunch will be provided.

Levels and experience are guidelines based on topic-specific experience. All courses support foundational and advanced learning.

This course provides an in-depth, practical review of petroleum hydrotreating and hydrocracking technologies used throughout modern refineries. Participants explore hydroprocessing chemistry, catalysts, commercial process designs, reactor operation, equipment, startup and shutdown procedures, and operational best practices while gaining a broad understanding of hydroprocessing applications, optimization, and emerging technology developments.

Explain the fundamentals of hydrotreating and hydrocracking chemistry, catalysts, and process configurations.

Evaluate hydroprocessing applications for naphtha, distillates, FCC feed, resid, renewable feeds, and lube oil production.

Understand hydroprocessing equipment design, reactor operation, startup, shutdown, and catalyst management.

Apply best practices to improve hydroprocessing safety, reliability, operational performance, and profitability.

Hydrotreating & Hydrocracking Process Technology is designed for refinery process engineers, unit operations personnel, catalyst researchers, technical service professionals, catalyst suppliers, and engineering contractors involved in hydroprocessing technologies. The course is also valuable for managers seeking a broader understanding of hydrotreating and hydrocracking operations.

Introduction to Hydroprocessing

Refining trends and the role of hydroprocessing

Hydroprocessing process configurations

Process economics

Safety and environmental considerations

Chemistry and Catalysts

Hydroprocessing chemistry and reactions

Catalyst selection and performance

Process variables and feedstock effects

Coke formation and catalyst deactivation

Hydrotreating Processes

Naphtha hydrotreating

Middle distillate hydrotreating

VGO (FCC feed) hydrotreating

Resid hydrotreating

Renewable feed processing

Hydrocracking Processes

Fuels hydrocracking

Mild hydrocracking

Hydroprocessing for lube oil production

Catalytic dewaxing

Resid hydrocracking

Startup, Shutdown, and Emergency Procedures

Normal operation and process control

Startup procedures

Shutdown procedures

Catalyst changeouts

Emergency procedures

Operating best practices

Hydroprocessing Equipment Design and Operation

High-pressure equipment

Reactor design and operation

Corrosion and metallurgy

Jeff Johns

Jeff Johns has over 35 years of petroleum refining experience and was named a Chevron Fellow for his hydroprocessing contributions. As Chevron’s foremost hydroprocessing technical advisor and Hydroprocessing Team Leader, he supported hydrocracking and hydrotreating technology across Chevron refineries and joint ventures worldwide.

His expertise includes unit design, operation, optimization, troubleshooting, catalyst management, and process safety. He helped improve system profitability by over $100 million and developed and taught introductory and advanced courses to more than 2,500 operations, maintenance, and technical personnel.

Jeff also served as Executive Director of Advanced Refining Technologies (ART), led the Hydroprocessing Safety and Reliability Industry Committee, and participated in the AFPM Q&A/Screening Committee. He holds a BS in Chemical Engineering, summa cum laude, from the University of Utah and five hydroprocessing patents, with one additional patent pending.

The training will be held in Houston, TX. The exact location will be announced by mid-November. Please check back for updates. If you purchase the class, you can find the hotel booking link under My Courses → (your course) → Resources once available.