Great Point Energy,

2007-2009 Technology Deployment Director

I took over Operations during a problematic situation leading to a capital raising effort. Working with the GTI (Gas Technology Institute) labs, GPE laboratory successfully conducted the necessary runs to raise $ 130 MM and financial partners such as Suncor, Peabody and others.

Coordinated GreatPoint engineering efforts with the Engineering contractor in the design and construction of the $40 MM pilot plant facility in Somerset Mass. Manage the Operating Budget of the plant. Specific duties were:

Air Products and Chemicals, Allentown Pa

1999-2002       Senior Principal Development Engineer

I was pilot plant manager of the ITM Syngas, a new reformer technology based on Ionic Membranes for the production of hydrogen and CO. Manage successfully the design, construction and operation within budget and agreed schedule. The plant had capacity of 24MSCFD in Allentown, Pa, headquarters of the APCI.  

1997-1998       Principal Development Engineer

Gases Group: Evaluation and development of new cryogenic cycles to improve Air Separation Units capital and operating costs (for the production of liquid nitrogen and oxygen).

Industrial Chemical Technology: Manage the design, construction and operation of a solid/liquid separation pilot plant to test several filter media using amines and actual hydrogenation catalyst in support of a commercial facility in Wichita, Ks. Filtration characterization and the design of new process improvements to reduce operating costs. Applied Research: Consultant work for Monsanto, improving their filtration system for a new expansion project.

Shell Petroleum Co. of Peru

1987-1989       Laboratory Assistant, Analysis of customer lubricant samples, to ensure customer satisfaction. Develop of new techniques to evaluate lubricant oils in a faster and cost effective manner to detect adulteration. Plant quality control and personnel supervision.

SNC Lavalin  GDS Engineering, Houston TX

2006-2007 Process Director of Gasification & Syngas Utilization

Lead process engineering activities for engineering firm. The projects included Feasibility studies for floating chemical plant to process development support in a running plant (gasification plant) as well as general plant design such as PDF, PIDs, Heat and Material Balance. Support the business development effort by represented it in technical forums to increase SNCL presence in the sector of alternative fuels

Syntroleum, Tulsa, OK

2002-2006   Project Manager-Plant Manager-Design Manager

Syntroleum a startup company developed the Fischer Tropsch technology to produce liquid fuels from natural gas and coal.

I started as Project Manager for Gas to Liquid and Coal to Liquid projects. Successfully deliver the committed engineering work within the agreed budget and schedule. The work product included Engineering Feasibility studies for GTL and CTL clients including US DOD GTL Mounted Barge Project, Australian Power and Electric Ltd. Studies included Process Flow Diagrams, Simulations, Heat and Material Balance, Equipment list and cost, safety assessment and equipment allocation and coordinated efforts with Engineering Contractors such as AMEC.

Syntroleum faced difficult technology challenges during the startup of their demonstration plant in Catoosa OK. They were under pressure from their clients and partners to deliver the promised fuel. I took the Plant Manager position and successfully delivered all the contractual commitments within the negotiated schedule. Lead a tri-party leadership team (Syntroleum-Foster Wheeler and Marathon) to solve all technology issues. The major accomplishment was a new solid/liquid configuration to ensure that the liquid product met the specification in terms of solid contaminants.

I took all responsibilities of budget, personnel and capital expenditure in the 100 bpd facility. The facility had 70 employees plus contractors. Much of Syntroleum IP position was established during this time. After the closing of the operation of the pilot plant, I manage a team of 8 engineers to in the documentation and preparation for Engineering and Finance Due Diligence Investigation from potential investors in the company’s commercial projects. Lead Evaluation of Syntroleum’s intellectual property and freedom to practice and the Syntroleum’s Patent Committee.

SASOL Technology

1989-1993  Senior Process Engineer

Development of Fischer Tropsch slurry technology, risk assessment, cost analysis and process comparison of competing processes.

Responsible of reactor hydrodynamics, mass transfer and reaction kinetic limitations, filtration development and reactor modeling. Shift Supervisor of the 70 bpd demonstration plant. Responsible of pilot plant operation and personnel supervision. Part of the commissioning team of the commercial reactor (2500 bpd) as well as data analysis and trouble shooting. Computer model development for process simulation and economic evaluation of commercial projects. Preparation of feasibility studies using Sasol slurry technology for stranded gas.

Development of Fischer Tropsch Fluidized reactor: SAS (Sasol Advanced Synthol reactor). Operation and reporting of Commercial reactor (15 ft diameter and 2500 bpd) for further scaleup in Secunda (33 ft diameter and 20,000 bpd). Evaluation of technology risk and assessment of technology challenges, including erosion in the internal cyclones and loss of bed density due to attrition and carbon accumulation.