My CV
Updated 7/14/2008
Or if you prefer, my resume.
I want to emphasize that I am not looking for a job. But people sometimes ask me for my CV or resume, or they want to know more about my work background. Please don't circulate it. If you wish to contact me, my e-mail address is listed.
Note that this CV does not reflect the articles and book chapters I have written on the topic of energy. I have written articles for a number of publications, and I wrote the chapter on renewable diesel for Biofuels, Solar and Wind as Renewable Energy Systems: Benefits and Risks.
I am also in the process of writing the Biofuels/Bioenergy chapter for a sustainable development book to be published in 2009. My work is also referenced in several books, including Gusher of Lies
and Profit from the Peak.
A sampling of other extras not on my resume include varying degrees of technical consulting for the following:
A biodiesel plant planned for the Democratic Republic of the Congo
An energy-integrated grain ethanol plant in the U.S.
Two biomass gasification facilities
An ethanol plant planned for Malaysia
A novel bio-butanol process proposed for SE Asia
A proposed cellulosic ethanol plant for Europe
A proposed U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funded ethanol/butanol plant
A study to double the energy return for corn ethanol production in the U.S.
---------------------------------------
NAME:
Robert Rapier
ADDRESS:
My time is split between Dallas, Texas and Arnhem, the Netherlands.
CONTACT INFO:
My Email
NATIONALITY:
U.S.
EDUCATION:
Master of Science in Chemical Engineering Texas A&M University, College Station, TX in May 1995 GPA: 3.63/4.00
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Mathematics (double major), Texas A&M University, Commerce, TX in May 1995 GPA: 3.93/4.00
SUMMARY:
Seventeen years of engineering experience in the chemicals and oil and gas industries across a wide range of fossil fuel and biofuels technologies, including refining, natural gas production, gas-to-liquids, ethanol production, and butanol production. I have experience in R&D, process, production, and design. My experience includes international assignments in Germany, Scotland, and the Netherlands. My graduate school experience involved the biological conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into chemicals. I have received multiple patents for my work. Additional experience includes extensive consulting and writing on various alternative energy technologies.
WORK HISTORY:
03.08 – Present; Accsys Technologies PLC, London, UK; Projects, Engineering, and Development Director
• Serve as Director of Projects, Engineering, and Development.
• Report directly to the CEO of Accsys Technologies.
• Responsible for global engineering excellence in the organization.
• Plan, prioritize, and assign the work load for the team.
• Recruit, interview, and hire new staff.
• Direct the research and development of the organization.
01.07 – 03.08; ConocoPhillips, Aberdeen, UK; Process Engineering Team Leader
• Led large international team tasked with executing projects in the North Sea sector.
• Planned, prioritized, and assigned the work load for the team.
• Recruited, interviewed, and hired new engineers into the group.
• Prepared estimates, schedules, and project execution plans.
• Ultimately responsible for the quality of all work produced by the team.
• Served as technical advisor for the emergency response team.
• Conducted semi-annual performance appraisals for all team members.
• BOSIET certified
05.04 – 01.07; ConocoPhillips, Billings, Montana; LP and Models Engineer
• Utilized Aspen Orion for refinery scheduling and planning.
• Interfaced with commercial group to develop short and long-term operating plans.
• Monitored key process indicators for all process units on a weekly basis.
• Served as primary backup for product blender and scheduler.
• Implemented control plan for Six Sigma project on crude oil quality.
• Provided technical/economic input on corporate alternative fuel interests.
• Provided testimony to the legislature on a proposed ethanol mandate.
• Published numerous articles on various alternative energy technologies.
03.02 – 05.04; ConocoPhillips, Ponca City, Oklahoma; Senior Staff Engineer
• Provided technical support for the development of gas-to-liquids (GTL) technology. Primary responsibility was on the gasification step.
• Served as Technical Lead for ethane oxidative dehydrogenation project.
• Invented a breakthrough process that enabled the first ever ultra-high-pressure ethane oxidative dehydrogenation. This significantly improved project economics, and I received a Special Recognition Award as a result.
• Supervised a team of technicians and chemical engineers.
• Submitted 20 invention records, of which 6 are in various stages of patenting.
• Developed Excel spreadsheets for acquisition and analysis of process data.
05.01 – 03.02; Celanese, Clear Lake, Texas; Six Sigma Black Belt
• Provided technical direction for acrylic acid and acrylic acid esters units.
• Trained in Six Sigma methodology and completed Six Sigma Black Belt program.
• Served as mentor for two Six Sigma Green Belts.
• Led two successful Six Sigma teams. The results of our efforts led to a decrease in plant energy usage of $2 million/yr.
06.99 – 05.01; Celanese, Oberhausen, Germany; Production Engineer
• Provided technical support for the butyraldehyde, butanol, and 2-ethyl hexanol units.
• Conceived and designed a novel new butanol unit that was estimated to reduce production costs by $5.4 million/yr. Led team through successful piloting of the design, for which I received a patent.
• Designed advanced process control systems for several distillation towers.
06.97 – 06.99; Celanese, Bay City, Texas; Senior Process Engineer
• Provided technical direction for the butanol, propanol, and POX units.
• Engineered distillation modifications that reduced variable steam usage by 30% and increased butanol capacity by 20%. This was achieved at no capital cost.
• Designed and commissioned a new butyraldehyde distillation system.
• Recommended changes in the butanol production system which led to a 5% overall increase in propylene to butanol efficiency. The total value in energy costs, capacity increases, and propylene efficiency was approximately $9 million/yr.
• Decreased the process waste streams by 75%.
• Provided all process support for a $6 MM expansion of the butanol unit and a $20 MM conversion of POX reactors from fuel oil to natural gas.
05.95 – 06.97; Celanese, Corpus Christi, Texas; Development Engineer
• Provided technical support for butanol and propanol units.
• Modified a butanol distillation system and avoided a $5 million capital expenditure.
• Developed Aspen Plus models for a butanol purification system, a POX reactor, a synthesis gas purification system, and a butyraldehyde splitter.
• Operated a butanol distillation pilot unit.
01.94 – 05.95; Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; Research Assistant
• Instructed students in chemical engineering unit operations.
• Designed and operated a series of bio-reactors used to convert municipal solid waste and wastewater sludge into mixed organic acids and alcohols.
• Supervised interns engaged in experiments in the biomass lab.
08.91 – 01.94; Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; Teaching Assistant
• Prepared and delivered chemistry lectures each week.
• Supervised students in the lab and tutored them in general and analytical chemistry.
• Performed research in mass spectrometry instrument development.
07.86 – 08.91; Campbell Soup Company, Paris, TX; Lab Technician
• Managed quality control lab during night shift while attending school full-time.
• Collected samples from production lines.
• Performed analytical and bacteriological tests.
PATENTS:
Granted Patents
US Patent 7,067,455 - Copper modified catalysts for oxidative dehydrogenation
US Patent 7,074,977 - Reactor and process for converting alkanes to alkenes
US Patent 7,087,795 - Method for the production of aldehydes
US Patent 7,381,230 - Reactor and process for making synthesis gas
Pending Patents
US Application 20060143980 - Reactor and process for making synthesis gas
Miscellaneous Patents
US 7,087,795 has also been granted in Germany (DE10160368), by the European Patent Office (EP1456162), in South Africa (2004/3935), and is pending in Japan (2003551096) and in South Korea (2003551096).
ACADEMIC AWARDS:
Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Winner (for cellulose conversion to chemicals)
Texas A&M Regents' Fellowship
National Dean's List
Alpha Chi Honor Society
American Institute of Chemists Award for Outstanding Graduating Senior
American Chemical Society Award for Outstanding Analytical Chemistry Student
Robert A. Welch Fellowship
INTERESTS:
Energy and sustainability issues, hiking, biking, writing, travel
Or if you prefer, my resume.
I want to emphasize that I am not looking for a job. But people sometimes ask me for my CV or resume, or they want to know more about my work background. Please don't circulate it. If you wish to contact me, my e-mail address is listed.
Note that this CV does not reflect the articles and book chapters I have written on the topic of energy. I have written articles for a number of publications, and I wrote the chapter on renewable diesel for Biofuels, Solar and Wind as Renewable Energy Systems: Benefits and Risks.
I am also in the process of writing the Biofuels/Bioenergy chapter for a sustainable development book to be published in 2009. My work is also referenced in several books, including Gusher of Lies and Profit from the Peak.A sampling of other extras not on my resume include varying degrees of technical consulting for the following:
A biodiesel plant planned for the Democratic Republic of the Congo
An energy-integrated grain ethanol plant in the U.S.
Two biomass gasification facilities
An ethanol plant planned for Malaysia
A novel bio-butanol process proposed for SE Asia
A proposed cellulosic ethanol plant for Europe
A proposed U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funded ethanol/butanol plant
A study to double the energy return for corn ethanol production in the U.S.
---------------------------------------
CURRICULUM VITAE
NAME:
Robert Rapier
ADDRESS:
My time is split between Dallas, Texas and Arnhem, the Netherlands.
CONTACT INFO:
My Email
NATIONALITY:
U.S.
EDUCATION:
Master of Science in Chemical Engineering Texas A&M University, College Station, TX in May 1995 GPA: 3.63/4.00
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Mathematics (double major), Texas A&M University, Commerce, TX in May 1995 GPA: 3.93/4.00
SUMMARY:
Seventeen years of engineering experience in the chemicals and oil and gas industries across a wide range of fossil fuel and biofuels technologies, including refining, natural gas production, gas-to-liquids, ethanol production, and butanol production. I have experience in R&D, process, production, and design. My experience includes international assignments in Germany, Scotland, and the Netherlands. My graduate school experience involved the biological conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into chemicals. I have received multiple patents for my work. Additional experience includes extensive consulting and writing on various alternative energy technologies.
WORK HISTORY:
03.08 – Present; Accsys Technologies PLC, London, UK; Projects, Engineering, and Development Director
• Serve as Director of Projects, Engineering, and Development.
• Report directly to the CEO of Accsys Technologies.
• Responsible for global engineering excellence in the organization.
• Plan, prioritize, and assign the work load for the team.
• Recruit, interview, and hire new staff.
• Direct the research and development of the organization.
01.07 – 03.08; ConocoPhillips, Aberdeen, UK; Process Engineering Team Leader
• Led large international team tasked with executing projects in the North Sea sector.
• Planned, prioritized, and assigned the work load for the team.
• Recruited, interviewed, and hired new engineers into the group.
• Prepared estimates, schedules, and project execution plans.
• Ultimately responsible for the quality of all work produced by the team.
• Served as technical advisor for the emergency response team.
• Conducted semi-annual performance appraisals for all team members.
• BOSIET certified
05.04 – 01.07; ConocoPhillips, Billings, Montana; LP and Models Engineer
• Utilized Aspen Orion for refinery scheduling and planning.
• Interfaced with commercial group to develop short and long-term operating plans.
• Monitored key process indicators for all process units on a weekly basis.
• Served as primary backup for product blender and scheduler.
• Implemented control plan for Six Sigma project on crude oil quality.
• Provided technical/economic input on corporate alternative fuel interests.
• Provided testimony to the legislature on a proposed ethanol mandate.
• Published numerous articles on various alternative energy technologies.
03.02 – 05.04; ConocoPhillips, Ponca City, Oklahoma; Senior Staff Engineer
• Provided technical support for the development of gas-to-liquids (GTL) technology. Primary responsibility was on the gasification step.
• Served as Technical Lead for ethane oxidative dehydrogenation project.
• Invented a breakthrough process that enabled the first ever ultra-high-pressure ethane oxidative dehydrogenation. This significantly improved project economics, and I received a Special Recognition Award as a result.
• Supervised a team of technicians and chemical engineers.
• Submitted 20 invention records, of which 6 are in various stages of patenting.
• Developed Excel spreadsheets for acquisition and analysis of process data.
05.01 – 03.02; Celanese, Clear Lake, Texas; Six Sigma Black Belt
• Provided technical direction for acrylic acid and acrylic acid esters units.
• Trained in Six Sigma methodology and completed Six Sigma Black Belt program.
• Served as mentor for two Six Sigma Green Belts.
• Led two successful Six Sigma teams. The results of our efforts led to a decrease in plant energy usage of $2 million/yr.
06.99 – 05.01; Celanese, Oberhausen, Germany; Production Engineer
• Provided technical support for the butyraldehyde, butanol, and 2-ethyl hexanol units.
• Conceived and designed a novel new butanol unit that was estimated to reduce production costs by $5.4 million/yr. Led team through successful piloting of the design, for which I received a patent.
• Designed advanced process control systems for several distillation towers.
06.97 – 06.99; Celanese, Bay City, Texas; Senior Process Engineer
• Provided technical direction for the butanol, propanol, and POX units.
• Engineered distillation modifications that reduced variable steam usage by 30% and increased butanol capacity by 20%. This was achieved at no capital cost.
• Designed and commissioned a new butyraldehyde distillation system.
• Recommended changes in the butanol production system which led to a 5% overall increase in propylene to butanol efficiency. The total value in energy costs, capacity increases, and propylene efficiency was approximately $9 million/yr.
• Decreased the process waste streams by 75%.
• Provided all process support for a $6 MM expansion of the butanol unit and a $20 MM conversion of POX reactors from fuel oil to natural gas.
05.95 – 06.97; Celanese, Corpus Christi, Texas; Development Engineer
• Provided technical support for butanol and propanol units.
• Modified a butanol distillation system and avoided a $5 million capital expenditure.
• Developed Aspen Plus models for a butanol purification system, a POX reactor, a synthesis gas purification system, and a butyraldehyde splitter.
• Operated a butanol distillation pilot unit.
01.94 – 05.95; Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; Research Assistant
• Instructed students in chemical engineering unit operations.
• Designed and operated a series of bio-reactors used to convert municipal solid waste and wastewater sludge into mixed organic acids and alcohols.
• Supervised interns engaged in experiments in the biomass lab.
08.91 – 01.94; Texas A&M University, College Station, TX; Teaching Assistant
• Prepared and delivered chemistry lectures each week.
• Supervised students in the lab and tutored them in general and analytical chemistry.
• Performed research in mass spectrometry instrument development.
07.86 – 08.91; Campbell Soup Company, Paris, TX; Lab Technician
• Managed quality control lab during night shift while attending school full-time.
• Collected samples from production lines.
• Performed analytical and bacteriological tests.
PATENTS:
Granted Patents
US Patent 7,067,455 - Copper modified catalysts for oxidative dehydrogenation
US Patent 7,074,977 - Reactor and process for converting alkanes to alkenes
US Patent 7,087,795 - Method for the production of aldehydes
US Patent 7,381,230 - Reactor and process for making synthesis gas
Pending Patents
US Application 20060143980 - Reactor and process for making synthesis gas
Miscellaneous Patents
US 7,087,795 has also been granted in Germany (DE10160368), by the European Patent Office (EP1456162), in South Africa (2004/3935), and is pending in Japan (2003551096) and in South Korea (2003551096).
ACADEMIC AWARDS:
Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Winner (for cellulose conversion to chemicals)
Texas A&M Regents' Fellowship
National Dean's List
Alpha Chi Honor Society
American Institute of Chemists Award for Outstanding Graduating Senior
American Chemical Society Award for Outstanding Analytical Chemistry Student
Robert A. Welch Fellowship
INTERESTS:
Energy and sustainability issues, hiking, biking, writing, travel
Labels: curriculum vitae, resume
posted by Robert Rapier at 10:14 AM
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