Richard (Rick) Rans

Provided measurement consulting services to Emerson, Photon Control, Shell Canada, TransCanada, Williams Exploration and Production, Duke Energy Services, SemCAMS and Gaz Metro.

Represented Photon Control on the API 14.10 Flare Metering working group who recently had this standard approved by the COGFM.

Established, lead and participated on natural work teams to maintain and enhance the Physical Measurement and Station Measurement portions of the Gas Management Process.

• Leadership of multi-discipline and multi-business process natural work teams. Analysis of strategic business needs, innovative application of technology and the development of strategies/directions.
• Business Area Champion on the Measurement Integrity Program.
• Liaison with industry peers and management of vendor/consultant contacts including the identification and establishment of alliances.
• Represent TransCanada on the American Petroleum Institute Committee on Fluid Gas Measurement.
• Coaching and mentoring team members.
• Consultation and business direction services to other process areas to ensure integration and alignment of process plans and objectives.

Managed a team of Engineers and Technicians responsible for technical/engineering design. Project included approximately 500 km of 914mm pipeline and one major meter station.

• Development of specifications covering all aspects of pipeline and meter station major material.
• Design of Scraper Traps and Block Valves.
• Stress analysis of the Pipeline and Meter Station.
• Design of the temporary and permanent Cathodic Protection system.
• Design of the Meter Station Measurement and Control System.
• Liaison between the Design Team and the Operations and Maintenance Team.
• Coaching/training of the design team and local staff.

Managed and provided technical direction to a team of Engineers and Technicians responsible for the start-up of and the operation and maintenance of a major Malaysian gas utilization project. The system consisted of over 900 km of 102mm to 914mm Natural Gas Pipeline, 200 km of 164mm & 208mm Propane and Butane Pipeline, 14 natural gas and 2 liquid product meter stations, 1 compressor station and an integral SCADA & Telecommunication system.

• Co-ordination between the Regions/Customer Companies/Project Management/Contractors in the resolution of operating problems.
• Development of operating procedures related to Pipeline, Cathodic Protection, Meter Stations, Compressor Station, and SCADA and Telecommunications.
• Engineering design and modification of facilities including drafting and presentation services.
• Accountable for the day to day operation of laboratory services.
• Supervision of mechanical services.(heavy equipment, welding and emergency repair).
• Support of the computer and communication systems for electronic mail, materials and maintenance management and office automation.

Engineered operating and maintenance solutions for natural gas measurement and gas control.

• Design of Real Time Measurement which combined measurement and SCADA functions into a single system.
• Development of an implementation plan to convert all measurement facilities from chart based measurement systems to Real Time Measurement.
• Working member of the API standards committee which developed "Flow Measurement Using Electronic Metering Systems".
• Developed the "Rans Methodology" for determination of flow computer calculation frequency incorporated into the API standard.

Providing start-up and commissioning expertise for a major Australian natural gas pipeline. This system consisted of over 1500 km of 508mm pipeline and 7 meter stations.

• Commissioned of the seven meter stations.
• Development of operating procedures.
• Analysis/resolution of operating problems.
• SCADA requirements assessment.
• Resolved a major metering deficiency at the Gas Producers measurement facility.

Supervised a team of engineers and technicians providing technical support to field operations and chart accounting. Over this period the team grew from 8 to 15 people and added an operation engineering function.

Responsible for the supervision and direction of Measurement, Controls and Corrosion Technicians. Maintained over 200 measurement facilities, 6 natural gas compressor stations and over 2000 km of pipeline system.

Progressed from being an EIT to supervising an automation engineering team. Work included design and project management of meter stations (mechanical/electrical/I&C/ SCADA systems) and compressor stations (SCADA and automation systems).