Oil Gas Engineer Expert Witness

Professional engineer over 25 years of experience specialized in instrumentation and control systems including design, construction, and commissioning in oil/gas production (onshore) and storage facilities, pipeline, steam and petrochemical plants. Positions included: Project Engineer, and Lead Engineering and Construction Project Engineer. Responsible for the development and execution of automation projects primarily in the oil and gas sector, most of them executed in PDVSA, Venezuela.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

JP Globaldigital (Engineering Company) – From May, 2019 to present
Development of Engineering Projects in the area of oil & gas platforms belonging to the Anadarko Company. This project consists in the development of new updated P&ID’s for an oil and gas production platform in the Gulf of Mexico. Performing the following activities:
Gather information/data from the process equipment, piping and instrumentation devices of the oil/gas platform.
Set up and organize the new information to be incorporated in the P&ID drawing.
Deliver the information collected to the technical room team for the P&IDs update
Assisting the technical room team for the development of the P&IDs update.
Revision of P&IDs

EPS (Energy & Power Solutions) Group – from October 2015 to May 2019
Lead Instrument engineer performing engineering designs such as specification and design of instrumentation on engineering projects. The instrumentation includes Flow, Pressure, Temperature and Level Transmitter, inline sensing elements, Pressure gauges, Switches, Thermocouples, Solenoids, Control Valves, On/Off valves, Safety Valves, Rotameters, and others. Prepared documents are as follow:
Preparation of specification and requisition for different types of field instrument, develop and maintain master instrument index from P&IDs, Instrument data sheets, and selection of instruments based on system application requirements and the review of vendor drawings to ensure proper interface and compliance with the technical requirements.
Review of and input to P&ID’s, preparation of Logic diagrams, Instrument installation detail, Flow and level measurement calculations, control and safety valves sizing, perform thermowell wake frequency calculation.
Maintain relationships with instrument vendor, get the quotes, and follow procurement process.

Ventech Engineers International, LLC – From December 2012 to July 16, 2015.
Instrument and Control Engineer, TTOPCO (TAQ TAQ Central Processing Facilities Phase II Development) to be built in Kurdistan, Iraq. On this project, I was responsible for the following activities:
Review of and input to P&ID’s, Logic diagrams, functional block diagrams, Instrument data sheets, as well responsible for preparation of specifications, instrument requisitions, data sheets and selection of instruments based on system application requirements and the review of vendor drawings to ensure proper interface and compliance with the technical requirements.
Development of measurement instrument and control system specifications/Requisition such as Transmitter, meter, indicator, Rotameter, controller, etc. for the different process variables (Flow, pressure, temperature, level, etc.)
Performance of Instrument and control system sizing and selection for Orifice plate, Flow meter, and Safety/relief and control valve.
Development of technical bid evaluation/matrix for selecting the instrumentation Manufacturer /Vendor.
Review and/or application of instrument and control Code/standards like ISA, ASME, ASTM, AGA (3, 7, and 9), API (520,521), NEC, NFPA 70, IEC, and ATEX, etc.

HEPS. Houston Energy Power Solution, Inc – From June 2010 to November 2012.
Lead Instrumentation and Control Engineer taking care of all instrumentation and control system activities regarding gas turbines and gas compression systems projects.
Responsible for programming automation and controls systems involving PLCs (Allen Bradley, Modicon, GE Fanuc), performing preventive maintenance on digital data equipment and control and monitoring circuits, locating circuit failures and replacing parts, performing enhancements on existing controls systems as well as commissioning & starting up new systems.

GTS. General Turbine Systems of Texas Inc. – From May 2009 to September 2009.
Lead Instrumentation and Control Engineer for a 50MW power plant construction project, using gas turbines and gas compression system, located in Bangladesh.
Responsible for all instrumentation and control jobs involving PLCs (Allen Bradley & Opto 22), executed in field regarding with the turbines, compressed gas plant; air instrument system, Safety/Relief and control valve sizing and selection and others related tasks.

N&V Consultores. C.A. – From July 2004 to September 2008
Lead Instrument and Control Engineer in charge of automation projects execution belonging to PDVSA Oil Company located in Maracaibo, Maturín, and Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela.
Responsible for leading and supervising a project engineer team assigned to the instrument discipline for engineering Projects in the Oil/Gas Production, Storage facilities, and Gas Pipeline areas with the following duties:
Ensuring all assigned projects were executed meeting the engineering requirements in term of functionality, standards, quality, and supporting and implementation process at minimum cost by allocation work assignments to project team.
Providing support for the implementation of projects in line with management objectives including continuous improvement of margin, customer satisfaction, schedule, and safety performance.
Contributing in the pre-engineering phase of the projects identifying the customer with information required before project starts.
Assisting project team in defining and estimating the engineering/technical scope of work
Assisting project people with the engineering and technical design specifications and providing technical leadership, support and expertise for the different disciplines.
Monitoring and controlling assigned work scope against the project plan
Acting as technical interface with customer establishing professional relationship to ensure that the project requirements were fully defined and agreed.
Supporting to the product design team in specification, selection, and application of instrumentation and wiring systems for use on industrial pump and compressor located in hazardous areas.
Assisting to generate or update standard template drawings to help streamline the design process and improve accuracy of electrical kit bill of material release to Procurement and Manufacturing
Assisting project team in Safety/Relief valve sizing and selection of different brand like Consolidate, Anderson Greenwood, Dresser valve and others.
Assisting project team in Control valve sizing and selection of different brand like Fisher, Masoneilan and others.

CONSULTING FIRMS.

(MGM, PCI, VARSINCA, etc.)- From May 1995 to July 2004
Instrumentation and Control Project Engineer & Lead Instrument and Control Engineer.
Responsible for the execution, supervision and development of engineering projects in the Oil/Gas Production area, Storage Facilities and Steam Generation Plants, with the following duties/responsibilities:
Project management in Oil / Gas Production area, Storage facilities, Pipeline, and Steam Plants.
Coordination, supervision, and inspection of instrumentation and electrical jobs.
Personnel management, material control, executes quality control and maintains a relationship with material and equipment supplier and project developers.
Performance of conceptual, basic and detailed engineering: Scopes, material and instrument specifications, material and equipment requisitions, installation detail, P&ID, flow diagrams, control loop diagrams and cost estimates.
Participation in instrumentation commissioning, factory and acceptance tests and startups of new projects
Construction, Startup and commissioning of installed instrumentation and control system in automation projects.
Perform inspection of all instrument and control works to ensure the quality and conformance to specification and standard required by the construction project.
Ensure the quality of instrumentation jobs done by contractors.
Review and/or development of instrument and control Code/standards like ISA, ASTM, API, NEC NFPA 70, IEC, and ATEX, PDVSA, etc.
Execution of instrumentation test (measurement and control loop diagrams)
Performance of instrumentation studies and fault analysis.
Selection of control system equipment.
Design of instrumentation and control system
Perform specification, selection, and application of instrumentation and wiring systems for use on industrial pump and compressor located in hazardous areas.
Generate or update standard template drawings to help streamline the design process and improve accuracy of electrical kit bill of material release to Procurement and Manufacturing
Development of relay logic and ladder diagrams for Programmable Logic Controller.
Development of specifications for PLC, SCADA and Distributed Control Systems (DCS).
Development of specifications for Instrumentation equipment.
Assistance to Operating plant and maintenance problems.
Participation in startup and shutdowns of oil/gas plants
Troubleshoot and maintain emergency shutdown, safeguarding and anti-surge system
Troubleshoot and maintain burner management and boiler control system
Flow measurement instrument sizing and selection
Safety/Relief valve sizing and selection of different brand like Consolidate, Anderson Greenwood, Dresser valve and others.
Control valve sizing and selection of different brand like Fisher, Masoneilan and others.

CIED (PDVSA International Training Center). From April 1992 to April 1995
Instrumentation and Control Instructor and Specialist in charge of the PDVSA personnel training Programs, located in Tamare, Venezuela. Electrical and instrumentation Instructor and Specialist participating in the programs of development route and training profile for maintenance and engineering instrumentation personnel of the PDVSA Oil Company located in Tamare and Paraguana, Venezuela.
Responsible for the execution of instrumentation and control courses, seminars, and some others event required by the main Oil Industry of Venezuela, PDVSA.

PEQUIVEN, an affiliate of PDVSA – from August 1987 to April 1992
Instrument and Control Engineer in charge of the execution of engineering and construction projects located in Maracaibo, Venezuela. Performing the following activities:
Development of conceptual, basic and detailed engineering: Scopes, material and instrument specifications, material and equipment requisitions, installation detail, P&ID, flow diagrams, control loop diagrams and cost estimates.
Assistance to Operating plant and maintenance problems.
Troubleshoot and maintain emergency shutdown and safeguarding
Troubleshoot and maintain burner management and boiler control sys Specifications and installation of PLC (Allen Bradley) and DCS (Honeywell TDC 3000).
Participation in instrumentation commissioning, factory and acceptance tests and startups of new projects. Construction, Startup and commissioning of installed instrumentation and control system in automation projects.
Flow measurement instrument sizing and selection
Safety/relief and control valve sizing and selection.
Perform inspection of all instrument and control works to ensure the quality and conformance to specification and standard required by the construction project.
Actively participating in HAZOP technical meeting regarding assigned projects.

SEGEMA AND TECNOCONSULT Consultant Companies. – From October 1985, to August 1987.
Instrument and Control Project Engineer developing engineering projects for the main oil company, PDVSA located in Maracaibo, Venezuela.
Responsible for the development and execution of engineering projects performing the following activities:

• Development of conceptual, basic and detailed engineering: Scopes, material and instrument specifications, material and equipment requisitions, installation detail, P&ID, flow diagrams, control loop diagrams and cost estimates.
• Material control, executes quality control and maintains a relationship with material and equipment supplier
• Development of relay logic and ladder diagrams for Programmable Logic Controller.
• Development of specifications for PLC
• Development of specifications for Instrumentation equipment.
• Flow measurement instrument sizing and selection
• Safety/relief and control valve sizing and selection

EDUCATION

University of Tennessee (1985)
Knoxville, TN – USA
Degree Obtained: BS Degree in Electrical Engineering / Electronic and Instrumentation Option.

COURSES & TRAINING

• (Venezuela)
• Instrument I. Foxboro
• Instrument II. Foxboro
• 501- KC Maintenance Operations. Allison
• Instrumentation for supervisor. INAPET (A Special course with a duration of 606 hours)
• Introduction to the oil companies. INAPET
• Basic of Integral Protection. Pequiven (Petrochemical)
• Introduction to Petrochemical Process. Pequiven (Petrochemical)
• Hazardous Operability (HAZOP). Pequiven (Petrochemical)
• Process Measurement Technology. Foxboro
• Process Control Technology. Foxboro
• I/A Foxboro System configuration. Foxboro
• Process Control. Foxboro
• I/A Foxboro System Seminar. Foxboro
• Automatic Process Control. INDESCA
• TDC 3000 Preliminary Implementation. HONEYWELL
• TDC 3000System Project Engineering. HONEYWELL
• Introduction to the computing (Lotus 123)
• General Electric / Series VI PLC. SISTECA
• Basic Control Valve Sizing and Selection. Masoneilan Advanced Control Valve Sizing and Selection. Masoneilan
• Vibration Instrument for Rotating Machinery. Bentley Nevada
• Pressure Relief Valve. Dresser Valve
• Pressure Relief Valve. Anderson Greenwood50
• Pressure Relief Valve. Consolidate
• PDVSA Engineering and design Manual. CEPET
• Compressor Control. Foxboro
• Autoplant2D (Similar to InTool)