Operations & Maintenance
Analysis of Refinery Performance and Operating Practices
Participated in projects for both domestic and international clients analyzing refinery performance gaps relative to peer refineries that were similar in size and complexity. The completed analyses resulted in target setting for multiple maintenance and operating improvement initiatives aimed at achieving cost savings and gross margin increases. The work involved site visits, employee interviews, final reporting, and presentations to company management.
Petroleum Product Pipeline Failures
Reviewed operation, maintenance, and inspection procedures and relevant history for refined products pipeline which suffered failures and subsequent release of their contents and resulted in litigation.
Power and Steam Producing Utility Reliability Improvement
Led a team that performed a critical analysis of incidents, operating design, and operating practices for an integrated power plant providing steam and electricity to a major petrochemical complex. Results of the efforts led to modifications in operating practices and equipment redesign that increased production reliability.
Environmental Contamination From Chemical Plant Site
Evaluated operating and maintenance practices, both current and historical, that led to ground and groundwater contamination at chemical plant site. Provided expert reports and testimony.
Refinery Environmental Operations Performance Improvements
Led a team that re-engineered the normal operations monitoring practices for a large water treating and environmental operating center. The multi-phase effort led to improved levels of treatment quality and lower volumes, a capital investment that economically eliminated the production of a large hazardous waste stream and lower operating costs.
Supervisor Exemption Under California Labor Laws
Reviewed roles and responsibilities for maintenance supervisors and machinery specialists at refineries. Dispute involved challenge to exempt position status by personnel requesting overtime compensation.
Gas Treating Plant Corrosion
Prepared gas plant volume balances to determine lost processing volumes due to plant shutdowns from corrosion related problems in plant's amine unit. Prepared report and provided expert testimony in Canadian court to support methodology and results.
Refinery Safety
Regular involvement in safety issues including standards and procedures updates, work permit audits, near miss and accident investigations, safety in design reviews, and HAZOPS.
Refinery Turnaround Performance Improvement
Led the evaluation of multiple refinery turnarounds on crude, fluid catalytic cracking, coking, and hydrocracking units. Evaluated existing practices and resulting performance relative to the “best” performers in industry. Provided management assistance in setting goals and objectives which targeted significant financial savings and unit availability increases.
Coal Gasification Combined Cycle Plant
Responsible for unit and equipment performance analyses, technology assessment, and development of operating and maintenance procedures at a 100 Megawatt (MW) coal gasification combined cycle demonstration plant.
Pipeline Easement Dispute
Served as expert witness on pipeline installation, monitoring, testing, and repair in a dispute concerning development of property transected by existing pipelines.
Review of Plant Operations and Maintenance History
Evaluated historical operating and maintenance practices that impacted maintenance and inspection work schedules during an extended refinery downtime. Prepared expert report and provided deposition testimony.
Environmental Contamination From Former Refinery Site
Evaluated historical operating and maintenance practices that led to ground and groundwater contamination at refinery site in Illinois with emphasis on developing a range of possible types of wastes and quantities of waste generated during the six decade operating lifetime of the refinery. Provided expert report and testimony.
Natural Gas Asset Strategic Initiative
Prepared job descriptions and qualifications for new organizational strategy of a fully integrated natural gas division.