Richard Ochieng
Gjovik
Summary
Skilled Energy researcher and Process engineer enthusiastic about supporting technological advancements in the hydrocarbon sector. Passionate about increasing knowledge to drive growth and needed improvements. I am ready to apply my knowledge and 10 years of combined experience in the research and management of hydrocarbon projects.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Doctoral Researcher
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
01.2021 - Current
- Wrote up to 3 research papers, and two project reports on synthesis of Integrated biorefineries for hydrogen, heat, and electricity production.
- Developed conceptual design of a biorefinery for hydrogen production; used Aspen Plus to perform heat and mass balances, energy integration, economic analysis, and optimization.
- Requested and acquired laboratory equipment (GC-MS analyzer, Bomb calorimeter) necessary for the project.
- Utilized statistical packages to analyze data and create visualizations.
- Presented research findings in international conferences
Technical Manager
Uganda Refinery Project [ Uganda National Oil Company]
06.2019 - 12.2020
- Communicated project plans and progress to key stakeholders and project contributors.
- Developed project plans and managed project scope using methodologies to guide projects from conceptualization to implementation.
- Served as a technical liaison, supporting engineering, management, procurement, quality assurance, and government regulations.
- Recruited and trained personnel up to 5 junior engineers on the refinery project.
- Formulated integration system process flows based on stakeholders' specifications.
- Communicated project updates to stakeholders at all levels.
- Monitored and tracked project progress to support timely completion.
- Negotiated and managed project budgets to meet goals.
- Wrote, updated and maintained project documentation.
- Established and enforced project timelines and deadlines.
- Resolved staff conflicts and identified potential areas for improvement.
- Managed project interfaces between the Refinery project, the EACOP Crude oil pipeline, and downstream and upstream projects.
- Represented the project manager in project meetings.
- Managed up to two interface risk that would lead to substantial financial losses for breach of contract.
Refinery Project Specialist
Refinery Project - Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC)
11.2017 - 06.2019
- Oversaw selection, procurement and allocation of building materials and equipment.
- As a client representative, I coordinated the pre-FEED, and FEED studies delivered by Saipem Spa.
- Represented the client in the HAZOP studies of the Uganda refinery project.
- Coordinated planning, scheduling, and successful execution of multiple early works on the projects.
- Compiled daily field report, detailing all key activities and outlining project progress for stakeholders.
- Managed the relationship between the contractors, subcontractors, and stakeholders to support successful project completion.
- Assessed subcontractor bids for costs and technical conformity to requirements.
- Lead a technical team to review the Basic Engineering Design Package on the refinery project delivered by Saipem spA.
Process Operations Engineer
ADNOC Onshore Gas Processing
01.2013 - 10.2017
- Developed and maintained standardized operating procedures for numerous functions and tasks to streamline operations of the Buhasa NGL plant.
- Ensured that the operation of the gas-oil separator, NGL processing plant and gas pipeline to Bab and Habshan was operated in a safe and sound manner.
- Analyzed operability requirements for upgrades and new equipment installations.
- Designed administrative and maintenance procedures to provide optimal service uptimes and minimize service disruptions.
- Coordinated engineering assignments for multiple simultaneous projects to fulfill prescribed project requirements.
- Served as an Asset Operator (Project Owner) during the commissioning of a 200km gas pipeline from BuHasa to Habshan.
- Responded to a number of process incidents/emergencies as an on-scene commander of the Emergency Response Team.
- Planned and supervised 3 plant shutdown/start-up activities, and prepare procedures for non-routine activities.
- Performed operational design reviews to determine the feasibility and budgetary impacts of new proposals.
- Drafted and updated operations and maintenance manuals to correspond to facility revamps.
- Provided technical assistance during operational changes via both on-site support and remotely.
- Evaluated proposed project investments by conducting cost-benefit analyses.
Research Engineer
Khalifa University
07.2012 - 01.2013
- Worked with associated technology and software applications to manipulate and synthesize data for research projects.
- Performed validation and testing of engineering models to support adequacy and reformulated models.
- Identified and developed research programs.
- Develop and analyse ADNOC gas processing Plants in ProMax software
- Presented research findings to the ADNOC research committee.
- Conducted engineering and detailed experimental tests to collect design data and assist in research work.
Process Chemist
Sugar Corporation of Uganda Limited, SCOUL
01.2009 - 08.2010
- Maintained organized, safe and efficient laboratory environment to minimize accidents and prevent cross contamination.
- Performed technical laboratory functions in compliance with regulatory agencies and safety requirements.
- Coordinated and performed analytical tests to comply with established standards and specifications.
- Modified and adapted standard methods and procedures to solve analytical problems.
- Contributed to team discussions and new project initiatives to advance progress and optimize profitability.
- Carried out laboratory tests and experiments to analyze, identify and isolate chemical compounds.
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
Education
Ph.D. - Bioenergy
Norwegian University of Science And Technology
Gjøvik02.2024
Master of Science - Chemical Engineering
Khalifa University
Abu Dhabi, UAE07.2012
Bachelor of Science - Industrial Chemistry
Makerere University
Kampala, Uganda 01.2009
Skills
- Laboratory to commercial-scale plant operations
- Fossil and biomass fuel characterization
- Research Presentation
- Experiment Design
- Strong Mathematical Aptitude
- Data modeling
- Project management
- Technical writing
- Engineering design and optimization
- Process modeling, and analysis with AspenONE engineering, and ProMax
- Programming in MATLAB, Python, LINGO and GAMS
Short-term projects
Short-term projects coordinated as an independent consultant or team include:
- Technical review of the Basic and detailed engineering studies of a modular mini refinery in Uganda , contracted by KPMG, Uganda , Date : June – July 2023
- Design, construction and commissioning of an industrial effluent treatment plant in Namanve industrial area , Uganda , contracted by Darling Uganda Ltd, Date : December - January 2019
Certification
- NEBOSH technical certificate in oil and gas operational safety
- Certified Six Sigma Green Belt(TUV-SUD)
Technical skills
- Research focus: Experimental and theoretical research in fossil- and biomass-based hydrocarbon technologies. Research areas include bioenergy conversion systems, oil and gas processing, and conditioning, systems energy analysis and optimization, technoeconomic evaluations, process simulation, and optimization.
- Engineering Management: Coordination of Pre-FEED , FEED and EPC activities, Contractor-Vendor-PMC interfaces; Project Interface Management; Value Engineering
- Project Management : Project schedule management , project milestone communication/presentation, contractor management, and management of Private-Public Partnerships in oil and gas projects
- Stakeholder Management: Management of project regulatory requirements , Coordination of Environmental Social Impact Assessments , project definition, and basis of design development
Affiliations
- Institute of Chemical Engineers, UK, Chartered Member, ID: 100063062
- PMI-Norway , Individual member , ID:4959140
Biography
Gender: Male
Date of Birth: May 5, 1985
Nationality: Ugandan
Country of residence: Norway
Residential status: Skilled worker's residence permit
Religion: Christian , Roman Catholic
Marital Status: Married
Languages
Luo
Native language
English
Proficient
C2
Swahili
Advanced
C1
Norwegian
Beginner
A1
Publications
- Ochieng, Richard and Ceron, Alejandro Lyons and Konist, Alar and Sarker, Shiplu, Experimental and Modeling Studies of Intermediate Pyrolysis of Wood in a Laboratory-Scale Continuous Feed Retort Reactor. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4534843 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4534843 : Submitted to Bioresource Technology Reports- Under review.
- Ochieng, R., A. L. Cerón, A. Konist and S. Sarker (2023). "A combined analysis of the drying and decomposition kinetics of wood pyrolysis using non-isothermal thermogravimetric methods." Energy Conversion and Management: X 20: 100424.
- Ochieng, Richard; Gebremedhin, Alemayehu; Sarker, Shiplu. (2022) Integration of Waste to Bioenergy Conversion Systems: A Critical Review. Energies. volum 15 (7).Vitenskapelig artikkel
- A.S Berrouk and R.Ochieng, “Improved performance of the natural-gas-sweetening Benfield-HiPure Process using process simulation” , Fuel Processing Technology 127 (2014) 20–25
- R.Ochieng, A.S.Berrouk and A. Elkamel, “Multiobjective Optimization of a Benfield HiPure Gas Sweetening Unit” Journal of Industrial Mathematics ,Volume 2013 (2013), Article ID 260918, 11 pages
- R.Ochieng*, A.S. Berrouk, C.J Peters and J.Slagle “Modeling the Benfield HiPure process of Natural gas sweetening Using ProMax”. Journal of Hydrocarbon Engineering (2013)
- R.Ochieng*, A.S. Berrouk, C.J Peters and J.Slagle, “Improved Performance on the Benfield HiPure Process of Natural gas sweetening Using Process simulation”. Journal of Hydrocarbon Engineering (2013)
- R.Ochieng*, A.S. Berrouk, C.J Peters and J.Slagle, “Amine processes outperform in sweetening LNG plant feed”. Oil and Gas Journal (2012), Vol: 110, Issue: 12, Pages 108-
References
- Gian Luca Biella , Technical Manager , Saipem Spa , Milan , Italy ; Email: Gianluca.Biella@saipem.com
- Alemayehu Gebremedhin, Professor , Renewable Energy Group, NTNU , Gjøvik
Timeline
Doctoral Researcher
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
01.2021 - Current
Technical Manager
Uganda Refinery Project [ Uganda National Oil Company]
06.2019 - 12.2020
Refinery Project Specialist
Refinery Project - Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC)
11.2017 - 06.2019
Process Operations Engineer
ADNOC Onshore Gas Processing
01.2013 - 10.2017
Research Engineer
Khalifa University
07.2012 - 01.2013
Process Chemist
Sugar Corporation of Uganda Limited, SCOUL
01.2009 - 08.2010
Ph.D. - Bioenergy
Norwegian University of Science And Technology
Master of Science - Chemical Engineering
Khalifa University
Bachelor of Science - Industrial Chemistry
Makerere University
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