Register Now for the American Petroleum Institute (API) 2026 API Storage Tank Conference & Expo – Oct 19 – Oct 22, 2026 – Austin, TX
October 19–22, 2026
Hyatt Regency Austin
Austin, Texas
The 2026 API Storage Tank Conference & Expo brings together storage tank professionals for four days of technical education, industry collaboration, and networking. Since 1995, this volunteer-driven conference has focused on safety, best practices, innovation, and professional development for the storage tank industry.
Attendees can earn up to 21 Professional Development Hours (PDH/CPD), connect with industry experts, and explore the latest products and services from sponsors and exhibitors.
Conference Schedule
| Date | Highlights |
|---|---|
| October 19 | API-NFPA Safe Tank Entry Workshop, Arrival Reception |
| October 20 | STI-SPFA Cold Storage/Cryogenic Tank Fundamentals Course, SPCC Compliance Course, Exhibition, Welcome Reception |
| October 21 | API Storage Tank Conference & Exhibition |
| October 22 | API Storage Tank Conference, NEW! API Refrigerated Tank Conference, Exhibition, Closing Reception |
Who Should Attend
- Tank owners, managers, and operators
- Storage tank professionals
- Senior design and construction specialists
- Representatives from refineries, pipelines, utilities, and tank cleaning companies
- Professionals involved in safe tank entry and confined space operations
Program Highlights
- Technical presentations covering storage tank safety, inspection, corrosion, leak detection, robotics, coatings, compliance, and emerging technologies.
- Industry keynote presentations and technical case studies.
- Networking with storage tank professionals, sponsors, and exhibitors.
- Professional Development Hours (PDH/CPD) for qualifying sessions.
API Refrigerated Tank Conference
Co-located on October 22, the API Refrigerated Tank Conference focuses on refrigerated and cryogenic storage technologies supporting LNG, NGLs, hydrogen, ammonia, biofuels, and other evolving energy markets.
Sessions will explore technology innovation, emissions mitigation, infrastructure development, inspection, construction, safety, and industry best practices for refrigerated and cryogenic storage tanks.
Workshops & Courses
API-NFPA Safe Tank Entry Workshop
This one-day workshop covers confined space hazard identification, safe work practices, atmospheric monitoring, instrument calibration, decommissioning, repairs, inerting, and hands-on testing exercises.
SPCC Regulatory Compliance Course
Led by former EPA national SPCC program manager Mark W. Howard, this course provides practical guidance on Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) compliance, enforcement, inspections, reporting requirements, and implementation of 40 CFR Parts 110 and 112.
Cold Storage/Cryogenic Tank Fundamentals
Presented by STI-SPFA, this course introduces cryogenic and cold storage tank design, construction, insulation, coatings, commissioning, maintenance, API standards, and inspection considerations.
Sponsorship & Exhibitor Opportunities
Sponsorship and exhibit opportunities are available for companies wishing to showcase products and services to storage tank professionals throughout the conference.
| Opportunity | Cost |
|---|---|
| Platinum Sponsor | $6,000 |
| Exhibitor | $3,750 |
| Additional Sponsor/Exhibitor | $495 |
Application & Artwork Deadline: September 25, 2026
Sponsor/Exhibitor Cancellation Deadline: August 7, 2026
Exhibition Schedule
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| October 20 | Exhibitor Set-Up |
| October 21 | Expo Open & Welcome Reception |
| October 22 | Expo Open, Move-Out & Closing Reception |
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
7:00 am – 8:00 am
Registration, Continental Breakfast, & Exhibit Viewing
8:00 am – 8:15 am
Welcome: Opening Remarks and Safety Moment
2026 Conference Co-Chairs:
Dave Cushman, West Virginia Paint, LLC
Earl Crochet, Crochet Midstream Consulting
8:15 am – 9:00 am
Keynote Session: API 653 at 35! The more it changes, the more it stays the same!
Speaker: Earl Crochet, The Tank Whisperer, CMC
9:00 am – 9:20 am
Morning Refreshment Break & Exhibit Viewing
9:20 am – 10:30 am
SESSION 1A: Cascading Failure
Moderator: Peter Williams, Concord Tank Corp.
Speaker: Adam Henson, US Chemical Safety Board
SESSION 1B: Managing the Unknown: A Risk-Based Approach to Unexpected Tank Floor Corrosion
Moderator: Mark Kachelmyer, P66
Speaker: Ahmed Al-Issa, Transmountain
10:30 am – 10:50 am
Morning Refreshment Break & Exhibit Viewing
10:50 am – 12:00 pm
SESSION 2A: Ask the Experts
Moderators: Dave Cushman & Earl Crochet
Speakers: Our Audience is the Brain Trust
SESSION 2B: EPA Regulatory Updates
Moderator: Dane Asuigui, API
Speaker: Christie Torres Rosa, Ted Walden, US EPA
12:00 pm – 12:40 pm
Lunch
12:40 pm – 1:10 pm
Exhibit Viewing
1:10 pm – 1:55 pm
SESSION 3A: Robotic Internal Shell Inspection of Insulated Atmospheric Storage Tanks
Moderator: Rama Challa PhD, PE, Advanced Tank
Speaker: Jerome Vaganay, Square Robot
SESSION 3B: Considerations For Utilizing Non-Fluorinated Concentrates in systems designed for AFFF
Moderator: Jerry Kolek, Consolidated Fabrication & Constructors, Inc.
Speaker: James Morgan, Williams Fire & Hazard Control
1:55 pm – 2:15 pm
Afternoon Refreshment Break & Exhibit Viewing
2:15 pm – 3:25 pm
Session 4A: Tank Reliability Centered Maintenance: Working within Regulations to Focus on “Bad Actors”
Moderator: Earl Crochet, The Tank Whisperer, CMC
Speaker: Rafael Rengifo, Becht
SESSION 4B: Measuring the Right Metric: Emissions Performance Versus Mechanical Integrity in Floating Roof Seal
Moderator: Todd McClellan, Colonial Pipeline
Speaker: Kimberly Hayes, Valkim Technologies
3:25 pm – 3:45 pm
Afternoon Refreshment Break
3:45 pm – 5:00 pm
SESSION 5A: Former EPA Program Perspectives on SPCC and FRP Compliance Monitoring (Inspections)
Moderator: Joe Mentzer, Steel Tank Institute
Speaker: Mark Howard, Ounce of Prevention Consulting LLC
SESSION 5B: Ultrasonic Mode Imaging – A Nonintrusive AST Assessment and Management Tool
Moderator: Wesley Oatman, Dunham Engineering
Speaker: Dr. Steve Ziola, Antech Systems, Inc.
SESSION 5C: What is your Showstopper?
Moderator: Kathy Hawks, Colonial Pipeline
Speaker: Todd McClellan, Colonial Pipeline
5:00 pm – 5:05 pm
Wrap Up of Day One
2026 Conference Co-Chairs:
Dave Cushman, WV Paint
Earl Crochet, Crochet Midstream Consulting
5:05 pm – 6:00 pm
Welcome Reception, Exhibit Viewing, & Networking – Presented by our Platinum Sponsors
Thursday, October 22, 2026
8:00 am – 8:15 am
Opening Remarks and Safety Moment
8:15 am – 9:00 am
Session K2: EPA Perspective on SPCC and FRP Compliance Monitoring
Moderator: Joe Mentzer
Speaker: Christie Torres Rosa, Ted Welden, US EPA
9:00 am – 9:20 am
Morning Refreshment Break & Exhibit Viewing
9:20 am – 10:30 am
SESSION 1A: … Before It is Too Late… An Industry Symposium on Some Disturbing Trends
Moderator: Earl Crochet, The Tank Whisperer, CMC
Speaker: David Cushman, West Virginia Paint, Phil Myers, PEMY Consulting
SESSION 1B: EPA’s Roles and Responsibilities during an Oil Spill
Moderator: Mark Howard, Ounce of Prevention Consulting LLC
Speaker: Christie Torres Rosa, Ted Welden, US EPA
10:30 am – 10:50 am
Morning Refreshment Break & Exhibit Viewing
10:50 am – 12:00 pm
SESSION 2A: A Tank on Borrowed Time: Risk, Repairing the Unrepairable, and Results
Moderator: Andy Wong, PEMY Consulting
Speaker: Joseph Attia, VTEK Consultants
SESSION 2B: Improved Tank Construction Efficiency Using High Strength Stainless Steel Coil
Moderator: Larry Foster, Marathon Petroleum
Speaker: John Grocki, Advantage Resources Consulting
12:00 pm – 12:40 pm
Lunch
12:40 pm – 1:10 pm
Exhibit Viewing
1:10 pm – 1:55 pm
SESSION 3A: Corrosion Cracking of Horton Spheres- Refinery Case Study
Moderator: Wesley Oatman, Dunham Engineering
Speaker: Sukumar Reddy Dasari, Ameer H Hamza, Rakan M Samman, Samer S Mulla,
Yanbu Aramco Sinopec Refinery
SESSION 3B: Operating Integrity for Volatile Crude Storage Under Elevated TVP Condition.
Moderator: Jerry Kolek, Consolidated Fabricators
Speaker: Riazuddin Amir Qureshi, ADNOC
1:55 pm – 2:15 pm
Afternoon Refreshment Break & Exhibit Viewing
2:15 pm – 3:25 pm
SESSION 4A: Advances in UHP Waterblast and Robotics-Improvements in Production, Safety and Environmental Impact
Moderator: David Cushman, West Virginia Paint
Speaker: Jeff Borgran, Shape Waterblast Group
SESSION 4B: Firewater Storage Tanks: Critical Differences Between NFPA and API Requirements
Moderator: Mark Jordan, CB&I
Speaker: Wesley Oatman, Dunham Engineering
3:25 pm – 3:45 pm
Afternoon Refreshment Break & Final Exhibit Viewing
3:45 pm – 5:00 pm
SESSION 5A: Tank Lining Internals inspection with High Voltage Spark Testing – Plenty of Room Left to Play
Moderator: David Kopala, West Virginia Paint
Speaker: Surojit Mukherjee, International Paint
SESSION 5B: Interaction Between Vapor Corrosion Inhibitors and Cathodic Protection for Aboveground Storage Tanks
Moderator: Amy Baxter, Enbridge
Speaker: Pavan Shukla, Battelle Savannah River Alliance
SESSION 5C: AI in Midstream & Liquid Storage Terminals: From Optimization to Autonomy
Moderator: David Nadel, Third Coast Terminals
Speaker: Chris Commander, North Side Energy Services
4:55 pm – 5:00 pm
Closing Remarks
2026 Conference Co-Chairs:
Dave Cushman, West Virginia Paint LLC
Earl Crochet, Crochet Midstream Consulting
Rama Challa, Advanced Tank
Neville Stokes, Bechtel
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Closing Reception and Networking – Presented by our Platinum Sponsors
Schedule note: The published program lists Thursday’s final sessions from 3:45–5:00 pm and closing remarks from 4:55–5:00 pm. Both times are retained here. The program also uses “Ted Walden” on Wednesday and “Ted Welden” on Thursday; spellings are retained as published.
