Petroleum Refinery Fixed Equipment and ASME Codes Expert

Technical Consultant #2154

Over forty years of experience in mechanical engineering, specializing reactor and pressure vessel design in the petroleum industry.
ASME Codes and Standards subject matter expert.
Specialty valve design and selection research and development.
Piping flexibility and vibration (CAESAR II, PENGS), finite element stress analysis (SUPERSAP).
ANSI/API Standard 510 for In-Service inspection of petroleum and chemical plant pressure vessels and heat exchangers.

Undisclosed Company, Consulting Engineer, Present

Retained as technical consultant and Industry code committee representative by ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Co. and the Pressure Vessel Manufacturers Association.
Lead investigator and project manager on the Materials Properties Council joint industry "Coke Drum Life Assessment" projects.
Carried out specialty valve design and selection research and development studies for ExxonMobil.

Engineering Advisor, (Exxon Research and Engineering, Florham Park, NJ)

Managed processes related to special high-pressure reactor designs, high-pressure valves, and large diameter storage tanks.
Developed special criteria for high pressure flange and moment loading criteria considering sustained, flexibility, and pressure loadings.
Developed basis and expedited acceptance of the ASME code case for enhanced 2 1/4 Cr steels.
Provided consulting services to special studies for very large reactor designs.
Developed design and material requirements for subsea ball valves on North Sea pipelines.

ESSO Engineering Europe Ltd., New Malden, U.K., Senior Mechanical Consultant

Participated in design of the Fawley refinery project.
Special aspects of this project included very heavy wall high-pressure vessels, exchangers and valves (ANSI Class 2500), enhanced property low chrome steels, and solid stainless piping.
Provided mechanical consulting for all of ESSO's European refineries.
Developed specification and design requirements for ball valves in delayed Coker and subsea services.
Acted as Senior Engineering Associate on Codes and Standards, while starting up a Gulf Coast office.
Field activities included resolution of reciprocating compressor piping vibration problems, evaluation of service related cracking problems in pressure equipment, special evaluations on delayed coking unit piping and valves.
Computer calculations involved piping flexibility and vibration (CAESAR II, PENGS), finite element stress analysis (SUPERSAP), and fracture mechanics.

Senior Engineering Associate

Consulted on special mechanical problems in the areas of piping, pressure vessels, fluid solids units, and tankage.
Special service applications included high and low temperatures, hydrogen rich processes, cyclic temperatures, Cat erosion and refractory linings, and components of synthetic fuels plants.
Established a position as a primary company representative on code and standard writing activities.
Acted as resident senior mechanical engineer on a major refinery expansion, including design specification and contractor follow-up on pressure vessel, piping, and tankage systems.
Carried out design and inspection surveys of worldwide manufacturers of equipment for project, resulting in Exxon's first application of ASME VIII, Div 2 vessels for heavy wall (7 in. Thk.-2 1/4 Cr reactors), and very large pressure vessel applications.
Introduced and implemented the use of forged/fabricated valves in place of cast valves to resolve service fatigue problems.
Designed and tested a 100 mile cross country gas and liquid petroleum pipeline and slug catcher type separator.

Credentials

Academic and Professional Affiliations

Life Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Chairman, ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code Committee
Vice President and Chairman, ASME Board on Pressure Technology Codes and Standards
Served as member of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Main Committee, Subcommittee VIII, T/G on Material Toughness and Chairman of the SWG on Heat Transfer Equipment
Served as Chairman of the API Subcommittee on Piping, Pressure Vessels and Tankage
American Welding Society - Member
American Petroleum Institute Member

Awards

Received the J. Hall Taylor Medal for outstanding contributions in the development of ASME codes and standards.