Expert Details
Oil, Gas, Petrochemicals and Renewable Fuels & Chemicals, Biomass and Biorefineries
ID: 722672
South Carolina, USA
He is a world-class expert on biomass conversion to fuels. Biodiesel and ethanol plant expert. He spent the last four years developing the biodiesel market in Brazil, US, and Canada. He started the biodiesel market in Delta-T. He enjoys a 34-year career in developing new businesses that are profitable. At Conoco and Dupont, he led teams that developed new fuel to chemical technologies.
He led the energy industry in the adoption of new technology in process engineering from wells to the refinery to fuels.
He developed the low-cost feed filter business at Dover RPA for refinery hydrocrackers. He started a new business at Cortec in refinery overhead corrosion control. Both increased refinery process efficiency.
He advises world petroleum firms in using renewable energy in fuels. He advised leading algae companies on biofuels production.
He advised investment bank Goldman Sachs on refinery processes as part of a bankruptcy acquisition. He advised IMin Partners investment fund on acquisitions in chemical companies. He managed an ethylene oxide project and refinery economics for new contracts with oil price mechanisms. He positioned the Dover RPA Process to grow in a mature market. He advised Anchorage Capital on recent crude oil pricing and links to refinery margins.
He worked with leading pulp and paper companies (IP, MWV, GP, WY) on biofuels from woody materials and designed new processes.
He served as an expert witness on five biofuel cases.
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 1993 | Degree: MBA | Subject: International Business | Institution: Warwick University |
| Year: 1977 | Degree: MA | Subject: Geosciences and Planning | Institution: Arizona State University at Tempe |
| Year: 1973 | Degree: BA | Subject: Geography | Institution: University of Texas at Austin |
| Year: 1991 | Degree: Certification | Subject: Refinery and Chemical Engineering | Institution: Oxford University |
| Year: 1987 | Degree: Certificate | Subject: Economics | Institution: London School of Economics |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 1998 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Principal Consultant | Department: Consulting |
Responsibilities:Provide expert engineering, financial analysis and program development in petroleum refining industry on consultative basis. Clients include Shell Oil, Conoco, Turner, Mason & Company (TMC), MWV, Gerson Lehrman Group and various private equity investors in oil & gas, biofuels, biomass and biotechnology.• Completed due diligence for oil refiner acquisition of stranded ethanol plant assets. • Advised GLG clients in 300+ engagements since 2004 in petroleum refining, biofuels, biomass and renewable energy and presented at more than 25 conferences. • Saved Celanese Corporation $15M on biofuel project reporting issue. Served as CTO of public traded (Undisclosed) in 2007 to 2009. Secured licensing agreements for PetroAlgae (PALG) and developed markets for biotechnology firm ArborGen (2011 to 2012) and its parent firm (MWV) in 2013. Served on DOE Peer Review Panel in 2015. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2015 to 2022 | Employer: The Citadel - The Military College of South Carolina | Title: Adjunct Professor | Department: History |
Responsibilities:Professor of Economic Geography. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2013 to 2020 | Employer: Trdient Technical College | Title: Adjunct Professor | Department: H, H & SS |
Responsibilities:Professor of World Regional Geography. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2009 to 2010 | Employer: PetroAlgae | Title: Engineering Manager | Department: Engineering |
Responsibilities:Negotiated only PetroAlgae license agreement with Suriname national oil company Staastolie. Developed markets in Sri Lanka with power and biofuels companies. Developed process engineering models for solvent extraction of lipids from algae. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2007 to 2009 | Employer: Kreido Biofuels | Title: Chief Technology Officer | Department: HQ |
Responsibilities:Spearheaded leadership of public biofuel technology company, building biodiesel facilities with responsibility to develop engineering design, liaison with financial institutions and secure long- term strategic and technology-based advantages in biofuels markets worldwide. Key officer of public company for financial presentations with a role to commercialize new technology and gain widespread market acceptance by licensing technology. Managed CRADA with US EPA for new chemical process technology. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2005 to 2007 | Employer: Delta-T Company | Title: Business Development Director | Department: R&D |
Responsibilities:Leader of the Delta-T (DTC) Team with a role to develop the strategy and position DTC as the market leader. Provide Feasibility to DTC clients on biodiesel and renewable diesel projects. Assist financial institutions with due diligence on biodiesel investments. Assist with engineering designs for biodiesel plants. Designed new biodiesel systems.• Presented R&D papers to management for technology selection • Advised financial firms on ethanol investment • Reviewed gasification and digester systems for ethanol plants • Led DOE grant team and review of cellulose to ethanol projects • Spoke at conferences to enhance the reputation of the company • Reviewed all design work for new projects for technical leadership • Managed budget for feasibility income and costs for a 60% GM • Negotiated role for DTC in the acquisition of NREL gasification technology |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2002 to 2004 | Employer: Crown Iron Works | Title: Manager | Department: Biodiesel |
Responsibilities:Led biodiesel initiative to position company as the leader in the growing biodiesel process technology market. Negotiated contracts for construction of two plants and developed international ventures with petroleum firms in South America. Managed the (Undisclosed) team and business unit with 30% GM.• Positioned company with leading oil & gas companies with speech to World Fuels Conference. • Positioned company with biotechnology venture capitalists with speech at Biotechnica America. • Authored paper with engineering staff for presentation at Malaysian Palm Oil Conference. • Managed the sales effort to secure company position in new market with new product. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2000 to 2002 | Employer: Suez (GE) Osmonics | Title: Product Manager | Department: Oil & Gas Processes & Operations |
Responsibilities:Responsible for Sales, Strategy and Marketing for the Process Industries.• Developed new plan for Marketing, Sales and Distribution Strategy. • Trained sales representatives for international markets with strong commercial and technical skills. • Wrote strategic plan for corrosion chemical products for VP Sales & Marketing and CEO/President. • Advised on oil and gas market, engineering and international negotiations for business over $5M. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1998 to 2000 | Employer: OSMONICS | Title: Manager | Department: Process Filtration |
Responsibilities:Provided leadership and merger skills to design new product line. Preserved gross margin and increased sales from merged units.• Created one line of products from merger of two companies with gross margin of 55% and P&L for $21M. Achieved profit targets for product line for two years. • Trained sales team with strong commercial and technical skills. • Wrote strategic plan for filtration products for General Manager and CEO/President. • Advised on oil and gas markets. Developed sales in Brazil and UK markets. • Awarded Business Excellence Citation 1999 – 2000. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1993 to 1997 | Employer: Chemstar | Title: Director of Sales & Marketing | Department: Chemicals |
Responsibilities:Provided leadership and turnaround skills to family firm. Increased sales from $3 million to $17 million preserving gross margins over 50%. Developed marketing plan and strategy. Started five new products.• Increased sales and penetrated new international markets. • Developed new commercial literature and trained sales team and distributors. • Organized American Petroleum Institute meetings in Bahrain and Canada • Collaborated on the development of starch patent. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1990 to 1993 | Employer: Dupont Conoco | Title: Manager | Department: Special Projects |
Responsibilities:Planning Manager – Europe 1992 – 1993Coordinated refinery and petrochemical process and new product planning. • Managed Specialty Chemicals businesses in Europe. • Advised senior management on acquisitions and product strategy. • Led Conoco’s effort in Dupont’s Aerospace Enterprise Team. • Coordinated refinery planning to meet chemicals and fuel markets. New Business Manager 1990 – 1992 Researched markets in Europe for Conoco and Dupont's new products for oil and gas, chemical process and filtration. • Started four new products in pipeline flow control, aviation, solvents, oil and gas filtration. • Merged US and European literature and product introduction planning. • Interfaced Conoco Planning with Dupont Intermediate Chemicals. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1985 to 1989 | Employer: Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) | Title: Manager | Department: Scotoil |
Responsibilities:Recruited to lead ICI into oil and gas chemicals in Europe. Created start up company ScotOil in UK, wrote marketing plans, created $5M sales in three years. Promoted from field engineer to office based management.• Transitioned conservative British chemical giant into dynamic supplier of chemicals to demanding oil and gas sector in Norway, UK, Holland, Germany, Italy and West Africa. • Structured and negotiated license agreements with French Italian and US firms to start sales in West Africa. • Advised oil and gas units of ICI in UK, Indonesia, USA, Canada and Italy on drilling technology. • Led field engineering team and trained staff in field engineering. • Negotiated agreement with ICI units in Europe to be agents for a variety of specialized chemicals sold on a technical basis to oil and gas firms worldwide. • Reviewed contracts for inorganic chemicals markets, advised on acquisitions in bromine manufacturing. Graduate, ICI Advanced Management Program, Stratex, Paris, France 1988. • Trained staff in ICI INSEAD Stradex Course for international sales and marketing skills. |
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Government Experience
| Years | Agency | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 1978 to 1979 | Agency: Texas Department of Water Resources | Role: Planner | Description: He wrote the state RCRA Hazardous Waste Management Plan with EPA funded Texas Department of Water Resources |
| Years: 1988 to 1989 | Agency: UK Department of Energy | Role: Advisor | Description: He advised UK offshore regulatory minister on oil production issues. |
| Years: 2001 to 2001 | Agency: Oil Minister of Romania | Role: Advisor | Description: He advised Oil Minister on future planning for privitization of Petrom and Romgaz. |
| Years: 2007 to 2007 | Agency: Minister of Transportation ISRAEL | Role: Advisor | Description: Invited by Israel's Embassy in USA and invited to speak in Tel Aviv on biofuels. |
| Years: 2018 to Present | Agency: United States Department of Energy and USDA | Role: Member | Description: Biomass Technical Advisory Committee |
| Years: 2019 to Present | Agency: US EPA | Role: Science Advisory Board Member | Description: Adviser to EPA leadership on science issues in biofuels, agriculture and forestry. |
International Experience
| Years | Country / Region | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Years: 2004 to 2004 | Country / Region: Brazil | Summary: Advised Brazil's national oil & gas company on biodiesel plant design and engineering. |
| Years: 2001 to 2001 | Country / Region: Romania | Summary: Consulted with national oil & gas firms (Petrom and Romgaz) on corrosion control as well as Oil Minister on Russian gas production issues. |
| Years: 2001 to 2001 | Country / Region: Saudi Arabia | Summary: Provided engineering and corrosion control technology to petrochemical company SABIC. |
| Years: 2001 to 2001 | Country / Region: Kuwait | Summary: Lectured to Kuwait Oil Company R&D Managers on novel corrosion control chemicals. |
| Years: 2000 to 2000 | Country / Region: Czech Republic | Summary: He engineered new refinery filtration systems for Chemepetrol in Prague. |
Career Accomplishments
| Associations / Societies |
|---|
| Society of Petroleum Engineers (Senior Member) American Petroleum Institute (Senior Member) American Institute of Chemical Engineers (Senior Member) ASTM International |
| Licenses / Certifications |
|---|
| Senior Member, American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) ASTM D02 (Petroleum) and Biotechnology Committees Senior Member, Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) |
| Professional Appointments |
|---|
| Technical Editor for the Society of Petroleum Engineers |
| Publications and Patents Summary |
|---|
| He has 14 publications in 22 years. |
Additional Experience
| Expert Witness Experience |
|---|
| Testified on drilling rig safety in 1990 for Dresser Industries in New Orleans Federal Court of offshore safety. Gave biotechnology and chemical engineering witness testimony in class action suit. Gave biodiesel expert witness reviews for case with accident and fire. Gave biodiesel expert witness reviews for case with economic consequences. |
| Training / Seminars |
|---|
| Oil and Gas Process Chemicals at Oxford University College of Petroleum Studies in 1987 and 1990-91 (St. Catherine's College on Refinery Engineering, Chemical Engineering). |
| Vendor Selection |
|---|
| Selected supplier (SAP) for Osmonics. Provided the engineering and equipment reviews for all employers (Dresser, ICI, Conoco, Dupont, Chemstar, GE Osmonics, Cortec, Crown) |
| Marketing Experience |
|---|
| 36 year career of starting new products and processes to oil, gas, petrochemical and chemical industries. World Class marketing skills that positioned companies in leadership roles. |
| Other Relevant Experience |
|---|
| Ten years of university education coupled with over 20 years of international petroleum management, leadership and consulting. |
Language Skills
| Language | Proficiency |
|---|---|
| English | Native |
| Italian | Fluent |
| French | Proficient |
| Arabic | Beginner |
Fields of Expertise
alcohol fuel, amine treating, fine chemical, biomass fuel, biorefinery, alternative fuel, soy diesel fuel, fuel, business development, carbohydrate chemistry, chemical fuel, energy engineering, energy-efficient petroleum refining, petroleum processing, renewable energy source, oil distribution, petrochemical marketing, oil refining technology, cellulose chemistry, natural product chemistry, boiler fuel, automotive fuel, hydroforming, aviation fuel, hazardous waste fuel, coking, petroleum hydrogenation, batch petroleum refining, petroleum hydrotreating, fluid catalytic cracking, hydrocracking, fossil fuel hydroprocessing, liquid fuel, organic chemistry, hydrogen fuel, heating fuel, fossil fuel, fluid catalytic cracking unit