No two crude oils are alike, and that variability has real implications for process safety and refinery operations. Differences in composition, blending, and sourcing can significantly influence relief and flare system design requirements, tank farm behavior, and overall plant performance. As refiners adapt to shifting global supply chains, environmental regulations, and economic pressures, understanding how crude slate variability affects system performance is critical to maintaining safe, efficient, and compliant operations.

This blog highlights key findings from a recent Smith & Burgess presentation, “Scenarios in Refinery Blending & Operational Impact,” led by Co-Founders and Principal Consultants John Burgess, P.E. and Dustin Smith, P.E.

Houston, TX – Smith & Burgess is proud to announce that Michelle Ramirez, SHRM-CP, Director of Internal Operations, has been honored as HR Leader of the Year (Small Company Category) at the Houston Business Journal’s 2025 HR Impact Awards.

Honoring Excellence in HR

The HBJ HR Impact Awards recognize individuals who set the standard in human resources by creating forward-thinking policies, fostering inclusive workplace cultures, and driving measurable employee and organizational success.

Transforming HR at Smith & Burgess

During her nearly 10 years at Smith & Burgess, Ramirez has transformed the HR function into a strategic driver of business growth and culture. Her leadership has been instrumental in:

• Expanding the workforce by over 150% across multiple U.S. and international offices, including Houston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Singapore, and Pune, India — with expansion into Saudi Arabia underway.
• Revamping performance evaluation systems to achieve 95% manager adoption and 90% completion rates, directly aligning performance with company goals and values.
• Advancing female representation, increasing the percentage of women at Smith & Burgess from approximately 18% in 2015 to nearly 50% today.
• Designing benefits and flexible work programs that prioritize employee well-being and work-life balance, contributing to 45% of staff maintaining tenure of 10+ years — a rare benchmark in the industry.

Houston, TX – Smith & Burgess, a leading Process Safety Management (PSM) engineering consulting firm specializing in relief and flare system solutions, announces the promotion of Aniekan Attang to General Manager. Mr. Attang previously served as Engineering Manager and brings over 13 years of expertise in process safety, project execution, and team leadership to his new role.

As General Manager, Mr. Attang will be responsible for driving both top-line growth and bottom-line performance while aligning Smith & Burgess’ services with evolving client needs. He will lead the firm’s growth strategy through strategic client acquisition, market expansion, diversification of services, and long-term partnerships. In addition, he will oversee project delivery, operational efficiency, and profitability to ensure operational excellence while consistently delivering exceptional value to clients.

Did you know, the allowable total backpressure for a conventional valve can be larger than 10% of the set pressure? According to API 520-1 §5.3.3.1.3:

Many people think a relief valve on a pipe should never see more than 10% backpressure for spring-loaded relief devices. In reality, that’s a guideline for normal cases, not a hard law of physics. That 10% is not a one-size-fits-all limit—it depends on how much extra pressure (overpressure) the valve can handle during an emergency or extreme case.

According to API 520-1 §5.3.3.1.3, “in a conventional PRV application, when the allowable overpressure is 10%, the built-up backpressure should not exceed 10% of the set pressure. A higher maximum allowable built-up backpressure may be used for allowable overpressures greater than 10%, provided the built-up backpressure does not exceed the allowable overpressure.”

So, what does this mean, and when is it applicable? In this blog, we’ll go over a few examples and explain the answers to these questions in simple terms. 

Did you know to exclude the exit pipe fitting in your PSV outlet pressure drop calculations if your PSV discharges to atmosphere?

This is because, according to research and fluid dynamic principles such as Bernoulli’s equation, there is no appreciable resistance once the flow exits to free air. Removing the exit fitting from backpressure calculations may lead to more accurate and slightly lower predicted backpressure on the valve, which aligns with current best practices within the industry.

Introduction

In the complex world of process safety, ensuring that facilities operate without incident requires a robust safety management system. The stakes are high in industries where a single failure can lead to catastrophic consequences, making effective process safety management essential. Relief systems and flare studies serve as critical safeguards, helping facilities prevent hazardous events and maintain safe operations. At the heart of this system are relief systems and flare studies, two essential components that help prevent catastrophic failures in petrochemical, oil and gas, chemical, pharmaceuticals, power generation, and renewable energy industries.

HOUSTON, November 12, 2024 - Smith & Burgess, has been named a recipient of the Houston Chronicle’s Top Workplaces 2024! This prestigious award celebrates companies that excel in fostering positive workplace cultures, and we are honored to be included in this year's list.