American Society of Mechanical Engineers - North West Houston Sub Section Previous Meeting History

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American Society of Mechanical Engineers
North West Houston Sub Section

Welcome to the website of the North West Houston Sub Section of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers International (ASME), the Internet resource of choice for mechanical engineers in the Houston area.

Meetings for 1996-97
Meetings Prior to September 2001
Meetings 2001 - 2002
Meetings 2002 - 2003
Meetings 2003 - 2004
Meetings 2005
Meetings 2006

Previous Meetings 2007

January 25, 2007 Luncheon	Suggestions for Career Enhancement and Professional Ethics	James R. Hutton, P.E. Compressor Engineering Inc
February 22, 2007 Luncheon	ASME Continuity & Change - Accomplishments and Lessons Learned and Vetco Gray's approach to HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature ) in Oil and Gas	Frank Adamek, P.E. Global Technical Director Vetco Gray Inc.
April 19, 2007 Luncheon	Use Crow-AMSAA Reliability Growth Plots To Forecast Future System Failures	Paul Barringer, P.E. Barringer & Associates, Inc
May 24, 2007 Luncheon	Engineering Ethics and update on Board Rules	Charles Pennington, P.E. Texas Board Of Professional Engineers
September 20, 2007 Luncheon	Improved Reliability of Drilling Operations Using Managed Pressure Drilling Technology	Ken Malloy P.E. Mohr Engineering
September 25, 2007 Luncheon	New Strain Gage Technology for Testing Computer Circuit Boards	Kevin Swiger Technical Sales Manager Vishay Micro-Measurements
October 30, 2007 Luncheon	Model test investigation of air can VIM of free standing risers	Mr. Jaap de Wilde Senior Project Manager Offshore Department MARIN

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Tuesday
October 30, 2007 Luncheon

Model test investigation of air can VIM of free standing risers
with
Mr. Jaap de Wilde
Senior Project Manager Offshore Department
MARIN
Netherlands

Free standing and hybrid risers are increasingly finding applications in deepwater fields all over the world. This is particularly true in West Africa and Brazil, where free standing risers are now often the basis for deep and ultra deep water developments. Deepwater developments often require riser systems that provide robust solutions with additional ‘features’, such as thermal insulation to improve the flow assurance performance, or an artificial lift capability in the form of a riser base gas lift.

A free standing riser generically consists of a vertical arrangement of a steel pipe, connected to a seabed foundation. The steel section is supported by a submerged air can which provides buoyancy and tension to the system. A flexible jumper connects the top of the riser to the vessel, using a gooseneck assembly. The top of the air can is positioned approximately 50 m below the mean water level to minimise the effects of waves and surface currents, whilst maintaining diver access. As a result of the decoupling from the vessel motion, the riser requires only a simple vessel interface, with low payload on the floater.

Free standing model riser with instrumentation

Free standing model riser with instrumentation

The Vortex Induced Motions (VIM) response of the air can in current has presently not well been investigated. It is generally believed that the fatigue is not critical due to the low current speeds and the long periods of the principal mode of response. However uncertainties persists for the participation of higher modes, the interaction with the riser VIV and the possible or types of instabilities such as galloping and wake induced motions. Especially clashing can be a concern.

A first research model test campaign was undertaken to study the motions for a range of current speeds between 0.16 and 3.34 m/s. The model was constructed at scale 1:68.75, with the vertical riser truncated at 375 m water depth. Two different weights of the vertical riser were considered. The tests were carried out in a large towing tank (8 m deep, 18 m wide and 240 m long), ensuring uniform flow conditions. Mode 1 response was observed for small current speeds, with a normal ”figure-of-eight” type trajectory of the air can. At higher speeds, the response became more complex with participation of higher modes and some larger amplitude wake-induced motions.

To download a pdf file of this presentation simply click Marin Model tests of air can VIM of free standing risers.

When & Where :

Stress Engineering Services Conference Center
13800 Westfair East Drive, Houston

Cost: Free Admission, and Brown Bag lunch is $10 with reservation. Membership Not Required. Bring a Guest!

Reservations Requested. Please contact Wendy Davis at 281-890-8441.

Click here for directions. .

If you would like to be placed on an e-mail update list, just send Wendy a note and you will get timely reminders each month of the upcoming meeting with details of the topic and speaker.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

11:30 am     Lunch served

11:45 am     Announcements

12 noon     Presentation begins

1:00 pm     Official Meeting Closes

A few notes about our Distinguished Speaker :

Mr. Jaap de Wilde is senior project manager at the Offshore Department of the Maritime Research Institute the Netherlands in the Netherlands. He has studied applied physics at Twente University, with fluid dynamics as major. In 1991 he started is working carreer as project mananager at the Industrial Flow Devision of WL Delft Hydraulics. In 1998 he started at MARIN. He now specializes in numerical (time domain) motion studies, physical model testing, riser VIV and floating LNG projects. He is member of the Ocean Engineering Committee of the 25th ITTC.

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Tuesday
September 25, 2007 Luncheon

New Strain Gage Technology for Testing Computer Circuit Boards
with
Kevin Swiger
Technical Sales Manager, Vishay Micro-Measurements

The electronics industry is facing premature board failures during manufacturing. This presentation describes how strain gages are used to identify potential damage in handling, assembly, and in-process testing of printed circuit boards.

Vishay Micro-Measurements offers custom strain gages tailored to the needs of circuit board testing. JDEC/IPC standards 9702, 9703, and 9704 provide the electronics industry with standard test methods. More information may be found at these web sites.....

A few notes about our Distinguished Speaker :

Kevin Swiger learned about strain gages by making them in the production business of Vishay in North Carolina. He then became familiar with their use as an expert in the Applications Support Help department. He is now Techical Sales Manager for the south, including Texas.

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Joint Meeting with
Petroleum Technical Chapter

Thursday
September 20, 2007 Luncheon

Improved Reliability of Drilling Operations Using Managed Pressure Drilling Technology
with
Ken Malloy P.E.
Project Manager For Joint Industry Project DEA155, Risk Assessment Study Of Managed Pressure Drilling
Because of depletion and wellbore geometry, development drilling after years of production has become increasingly challenging. Sometimes it is unavoidable to intersect both depleted and virgin pressured sands in the same interval. The high mud weights required for wellbore stability coupled with a narrow Pore Pressure / Fracture Gradient window potentially subject the well to lost circulation – stuck – kick cycles, making any re-drill or sidetrack an expensive and potentially hazardous endeavor. Exploratory, step-out, and wildcat wells face their own unique challenges by having to confront the uncertainties of drilling operations.

Managed Pressure Drilling, as an emerging technology; continually demonstrates the ability to decrease mud costs by reducing lost circulation, and rig costs by reducing in-trouble and non-productive time. With the application of appropriate equipment and techniques, Managed Pressure Drilling reduces the impact of surprises brought on by the advent of uncertainties. Often times the cost savings are exceptionally impressive at a time when many AFE's do not accurately reflect actual drilling costs.

When & Where :

Stress Engineering Services Conference Center
13800 Westfair East Drive, Houston

Cost: Free Admission, and Brown Bag lunch is $10 with reservation. Membership Not Required. Bring a Guest!

Reservations Requested. Please contact Jack Smith PE at 281-955-2900

Click here for directions. .

If you would like to be placed on an e-mail update list, just send Wendy a note and you will get timely reminders each month of the upcoming meeting with details of the topic and speaker.

Thursday, September 20, 2007

11:30 am     Lunch served

11:45 am     Announcements

12 noon     Presentation begins

1:00 pm     Official Meeting Closes

A few notes about our Distinguished Speaker :

Ken Malloy is a graduate of the University of Houston and a Registered Professional Engineer. He has a long-standing interest in safe managed pressure drilling and underbalanced operations, drilling efficiency, HPHT issues, and well control. He has led numerous investigations into root causes of equipment and operational failures.

Ken is a member of the IADC’s Underbalanced Operations and Managed Pressure Drilling Committee. He is also an active member of the ASME, American Association of Drilling Engineers, the Society of Petroleum Engineers, and the American Petroleum Institute; where he is Chairman of the Work Group studying the mechanics contributing to casing wear. He is presently employed at Mohr Engineering, a Division of Stress Engineering Services in Houston.

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Thursday
May 24, 2007 Luncheon

Engineering Ethics and update on Board Rules
with
Charles Pennington, P.E.
Engineering Specialist
Texas Board Of Professional Engineers
The following announcements and information are provided on the Board's web site:

May is Engineering Licensure Month !

Governor Perry issued a proclamation in honor of the 70th Anniversary of the Board and the 100th Anniversary of the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying.

Click Here for Additional Information.

The mission of the Texas Board of Professional Engineers (Board) is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the people in Texas by ensuring that the practice of engineering in the state is carried out only by those persons who are proven to be qualified and by regulating the practice of Professional Engineering in Texas.

Under the Texas Engineering Practice Act, only duly licensed persons may legally perform, or offer to perform engineering services for the public. Furthermore, public works must be designed and constructed under the direct supervision of a licensed professional engineer. The terms "P.E." or "professional engineer" can only be used by persons who are currently licensed. Anyone who violates these parameters is subject to legal penalties. To be eligible for a professional engineering license, engineers must have achieved certain professional milestones. They must have earned an engineering education, performed certain levels of engineering work experience, and passed specific examinations.

Charles Pennington will bring us recent news about the issues we all have interests in. Bring your questions and opinions to share with everyone.

If you would like to contact Charles, you may do so via email at charles.pennington@tbpe.state.tx.us or by phone at (512) 440-7723.

Additional information is found online at these web sites:

When & Where :

Stress Engineering Services Conference Center
13800 Westfair East Drive, Houston

Cost: Free Admission, and Brown Bag lunch is $10 with reservation. Membership Not Required. Bring a Guest!

Reservations Requested. Please contact Wendy Davis at 281-890-8441.

Click here for directions. .

If you would like to be placed on an e-mail update list, just send Wendy a note and you will get timely reminders each month of the upcoming meeting with details of the topic and speaker.

Thursday, May 24, 2007

11:30 am     Lunch served

11:45 am     Announcements

12 noon     Presentation begins

1:00 pm     Official Meeting Closes

A few notes about our Distinguished Speaker :

Charles Pennington has provided engineering expertise since 2002 to the Board investigators. He participates in outreach programs to educate the public and licensed engineers on engineering matters pertaining to the Engineering Practice Act. Mr. Pennington is also engaged in the research and development of policy advisories for the Board.

Prior to his three-year career with the State of Texas, Mr. Pennington was a mechanical engineer with Applied Materials for ten years. Mr. Pennington has 25 years of mechanical engineering experience in the semi-conductor, robotic and construction industries.

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Thursday
April 19, 2007 Luncheon

Use Crow-AMSAA Reliability Growth Plots To Forecast Future System Failures
with
Paul Barringer, P.E.
Barringer & Associates, Inc
Crow/AMSAA reliability growth plots use failure information from maintenance systems to provide a visual tool, with straight-line graphs, for predicting the next failure in systems where humans can influence the results. C/A plots work well with single failure or mixed failure modes. The simple log-log plots have easily calculated statistics to show if failures are increasing, decreasing, or exhibiting no-change in failure rates. The straight-line plots are helpful for forecasting future failures.

The fearless forecasts of future events catches the interest of people who can change the system to prevent the forecasted events. When implementing system improvements calculate and track the savings in failures between the old and new methods to convert maintenance situations into time and money for easy selection of alternatives.

Reliability growth plots forecast when future system failures will occur. Trend line slopes, b, tell if failures are coming faster, slower, or without much change. Long term trend line slope b also tell if programs have a reliability-focus where b<1 or a repair-focus where b=1.

Repair-focused organizations do not find failures intolerable, and they often reward faster repairs over avoiding repairs with acceptance of failure risks beyond prudent money limits. Reliability-focused organizations abhor failures, and they make improvements to extend time to the next failure by rejecting risk of failures.

Examples are provided: 1) (repair+emergency) work orders for SAP software for a large international company to determine if they are reliability-focused or repair-focused, 2) failure data on a large pipe line which has shifted from a repair-focus to a reliability-focus, 3) safety records for a start-up chemical company showing the growth phases during maturation of the company.

Additional information is found online at Paul's web site and at our Previous Meetings:

Barringer & Associates, Inc
See Problem of the Month #36 at http://www.barringer1.com/Papers.htm
Heat Exchanger IRIS Wall Thickness
Predict Future Failures From Your Maintenance Records
NWHSS Meetings 1996-1997

When & Where :

Stress Engineering Services Conference Center
13800 Westfair East Drive, Houston

Cost: Free Admission, and Brown Bag lunch is $10 with reservation. Membership Not Required. Bring a Guest!

Reservations Requested. Please contact Wendy Davis at 281-890-8441.

Click here for directions. .

If you would like to be placed on an e-mail update list, just send Wendy a note and you will get timely reminders each month of the upcoming meeting with details of the topic and speaker.

Thursday, April 19, 2007

11:30 am     Lunch served

11:45 am     Announcements

12 noon     Presentation begins

1:00 pm     Official Meeting Closes

A few notes about our Distinguished Speaker :

Paul Barringer whose motto is "Simple Tools Strong Results" is a reliability, manufacturing, and engineering consultant. His worldwide consulting practice involves consulting and training with a variety of discrete and continuous process manufacturing companies and service industries.

Paul was Chair and webmaster for NWHSS during its rejuvenation in the mid 1990's and his web pages are still available in the Previous Meetings section of their web site.

He is author of the training courses Reliability Engineering Principles , Process Reliability, and Life Cycle Cost.

Barringer has more than forty years of engineering and manufacturing experience in design, production, quality, maintenance, and reliability of technical products. Note his experience in both the technical and bottom-line aspects of operating a business with an understanding of how reliable products and processes contribute to financial business success.

Barringer has been:

Director of Manufacturing and Director of Engineering in an ISO 9001 facility for highly specialized mechanical devices used as safety valves for containing pressures up to 20,000 psi during drilling of high pressure, high temperature oil and gas wells in sub-sea and land applications.
Director of Manufacturing, Director of Engineering, and Plant Manager for domestic and international plants threading proprietary tubing and casing connections using specialized gaging systems for quality control of metal-to-metal seals on oil country tubular goods used down hole in deep, high pressure, oil and gas fields.
Operations Manager in a multi-plant manufacturing operation for high-speed equipment used in textile machinery.
Manufacturing Manager and Plant Engineer in nickel and cobalt based high alloy mills, foundries, machine shops, tube mills, and fabricating operations.
Development Engineer for ultra high-speed centrifuges used in separating uranium isotopes and biological materials on a production basis.

Barringer is a Registered Professional Engineer (Texas-51508). He is named as inventor in six USA Patents. Also he is a contributor to The New Weibull Handbook, a reliability text published by Dr. Robert B. Abernethy.

Barringer’s education includes a MS and BS in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State University. Additionally he was a participant in Harvard University's three-week Manufacturing Strategy conference.

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Thursday
February 22, 2007 Luncheon

National Engineer's Week

with
Frank Adamek, P.E.

Global Technical Director
Vetco Gray Inc.

ASME Continuity & Change - Accomplishments and Lessons Learned

Vetco Gray's approach to HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature ) in Oil and Gas

Frank made two presentations to the packed house audience (80+). The first was an excerpt of a presentation made by Rick Hunter at the SPE Applied Technology Workshop in Galveston Texas, November 1-2, 2006. Frank placed emphasis on the essential role of testing well head equipment in representative conditions for valve performance and showed several examples with illustrative results.

The second presentation was an update on the progress and success of the ASME initiative begun in 2001 to reorganize and establish new goals for the the Society. His presentation may be downloaded in a PDF format by clicking ASME 2007 Engineer's Week.

In closing Frank fielded a variety of questions and suggestions from the audience. One notable suggestion was for ASME to have a designated advocate who would listen to and work towards resolution of Members Technical and Membership issues, complaints, and problems such as noted Consumer Advocates do for local TV news stations.

One surprise question was "Frank, you have been working within ASME for quite awhile now. What has ASME Membership done to enhance and further your career?". Without a blink, Frank replied to the effect that it has taught him how to become a better engineer and manager by working with a volunteer team outside of his normal company. The volunteer organization works to solve problems and involve the public as well as its Members in conducting programs while increasing awareness of technology in their professional and community life. A volunteer group has different dynamics and motivations than those who are under the same corporate management banner. Those skills learned without cost are about working with people, and ASME has provided access to a broader number of exceptional people to draw experience from. (note: this summary is webmasters interpretation and not direct quote.)

For more information on this topic please visit these web sites:

When & Where :

Stress Engineering Services Conference Center
13800 Westfair East Drive, Houston

Cost: Free Admission, and Brown Bag lunch is $10 with reservation. Membership Not Required. Bring a Guest!

Reservations Requested. Please contact Wendy Davis at 281-890-8441.

Click here for directions. .

If you would like to be placed on an e-mail update list, just send Wendy a note and you will get timely reminders each month of the upcoming meeting with details of the topic and speaker.

Thursday, February 22, 2007

11:30 am     Lunch served

11:45 am     Announcements

12 noon     Presentation begins

1:00 pm     Official Meeting Closes

A few notes about our Distinguished Speaker :

Frank Adamek is a veteran of 30+ years in the Oil & Gas industry, and has held a variety of engineering, R&D and Quality management positions domestically and internationally at Vetco Gray since 1975.

Professionally, Frank is a member of the Board of Directors of the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) and a Board of Governors for ASME, American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He has held numerous positions in ASME. In 1994 ASME’s South Texas Section recognized Frank as “Engineer of the Year”. Frank recently held ASME positions included Sr. VP of Engineering and Sr. VP of Institutes. He is a two term Past Chair of the South Texas Section, and a Fellow of ASME.

In support of education, Frank serves on the UH Mechanical Engineering Industry Advisory Board providing a linkage between academia and industry needs for future Mechanical Engineers. From its inception 17 years ago, the ASME-UH-OTC Cajun Crawfish Boil, has benefited from Frank’s support and guidance of this OTC kick-off event on UH Campus by generating in excess of $500K for scholarships and other programs for UH, Rice, Texas A&M and Prairie View A&M.

Frank has committed his time as a leader in the Pasadena community. He has chaired the Pasadena Community Development Block Grant Committee and the Baywood Shadows Civic Association / Architectural Committee.

Frank, a native Texan, received his bachelors and masters degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Houston (BSME '72, MSME '75). He is a registered Professional Engineer in Texas and holds 10 US and foreign patents in high pressure sealing technology related to Subsea and Surface Wellhead and valve design.

Frank and wife Shelley reside in Pasadena. They have two daughters: Elisa and Melanie.

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This photo of Jim Hutton provided by Mr. Conrad Marvin

Thursday
January 25, 2007 Luncheon

Suggestions for Career Enhancement and Professional Ethics

with
James R. Hutton, P.E.

Vice President, Compressor Engineering Inc

This program will cover attributes that distinguishes a technical person, makes him/her stand out and enables them to move up in management. These characteristics are not always technical skills but also include their people and communication skills.

This presentation offers suggestions for professional people to improve their chances of promotion by enabling them to enhance and hone their people skills by better communication, letter writing and sending the right signals, etc.
For more information on this topic please visit these web sites:

When & Where :

Stress Engineering Services Conference Center
13800 Westfair East Drive, Houston

Cost: Free Admission, and Brown Bag lunch is $10 with reservation. Membership Not Required. Bring a Guest!

Reservations Requested. Please contact Wendy Davis at 281-890-8441.

Click here for directions. .

Thursday, January 25, 2007

11:30 am     Lunch served

11:45 am     Announcements

12 noon     Presentation begins

1:00 pm     Official Meeting Closes

A few notes about our Distinguished Speaker :

Mr. Hutton has a very distinguished career that began in WWII as the Chief Engineer of a Navy ship. He then went to work for Dresser Clark as an application engineer in a career that covered 40 years becoming Vice President of Dresser Clark before retiring in 1986.

He is currently Vice President of Compressor Engineering Corporation which builds custom-made automation equipment and spare parts for gas compressors. Mr. Hutton has a B.S. in Engineering and a degree in Business Administration from the University of Texas in Austin. He is the author of "How to Sell Technical Equipment and Services".

Upcoming Programs
We meet on fourth Thursday of the month for lunch unless noted.
2007 Meetings
February 22 - Engineers Week with Frank Adamek

April 19 - Reliability with Paul Barringer

Your suggestions and assistance are welcome. Contact Rafik Boubenider

Executive Committee for Northwest Houston Sub Section

The officers for the 2007 operating year for the Northwest Houston Sub Section of ASME are:

Chair: Dr. Rafik Boubenider

Vice-Chair: Dr. Stuart Harbert

Secretary: Ramon San Pedro, P.E.

Treasurer and Webmaster: Richard Boswell, P.E.

Arrangements: Wendy Davis

Programs : Uma Mundle 281-684-4581

Unless noted, all may be reached at 281-955-2900.

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Notes about this Website

This website is Under Development and will continue to evolve for North West Houston Members. This is posted on ASME servers.

Please send all feedback/correction/omission/suggestions to NWHSS webmaster Richard Boswell.

Our goal is to make this NWHSS site reasonably useful and active asap. Thank you for your help.

All Officers and Members are requested to submit content.

Please send NWHSS webmaster email with attached files in Word or text to include on this site.

Enjoy!