About Us
Dr. Mahmod Samman, P.E. | President
Dr. Samman has thirty years of engineering experience mostly in the design, analysis, assessment, and repair of fixed plant equipment. For over 25 years, he has been conducting pioneering investigations of degradation patterns, structural failures, and post-repair performance of coke drums. His work in this area has resulted in patented design improvements and state-of-the-art assessment, repair, and life extension techniques that are widely used at refineries and upgraders around the world.
Dr. Samman earned a Ph.D. in Engineering Mechanics from Duke University in 1991 and is a licensed professional engineer in Texas. In addition to his consulting practice, he taught a graduate level course in finite element analysis at the University of Houston as well as numerous seminars to industry. He has six US and international patents most of which are related to coke drums. He is the author of numerous publications and industry reports.
A Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and a Fulbright Scholar, he received the Herbert Allen Award for “outstanding technical achievement by a young engineer” from the South Texas Section of ASME and the Young Engineer of the Year Award from the City of Houston. He is a member of the Joint ASME/API Fitness-For-Service Standard Committee that writes the API-579 / ASME-FFS standard and the API 934G and 934J Workgroups on coke drums.
Dr. Mahmod Samman- Detailed Bio
Dr. Samman has thirty years of engineering experience mostly in the design, analysis, assessment, and repair of fixed plant equipment. For over 25 years, he has been conducting pioneering investigations of degradation patterns, structural failures, and post-repair performance of coke drums. His work in this area has resulted in patented design improvements and state-of-the-art assessment, repair, and life extension techniques that are widely used at refineries and upgraders around the world.
Dr. Samman earned a Ph.D. in Engineering Mechanics from Duke University in 1991 and is a licensed professional engineer in Texas. In addition to his consulting practice, he taught a graduate level course in finite element analysis at the University of Houston as well as numerous seminars to industry. He has six US and international patents most of which are related to coke drums. He is the author of numerous publications and industry reports.
A Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and a Fulbright Scholar, he received the Herbert Allen Award for “outstanding technical achievement by a young engineer” from the South Texas Section of ASME and the Young Engineer of the Year Award from the City of Houston. He is a member of the Joint ASME/API Fitness-For-Service Standard Committee that writes the API-579 / ASME-FFS standard and the API 934G and 934J Workgroups on coke drums.
Dr. Mahmod Samman- Detailed Bio
Ismael Baqdounes | Project Manager
Mr. Baqdounes is the engineer in charge of technical communications, data analysis, and quality control of Acoustic Emissions testing and Laser Scanning.
He has experience in multiple industries such as Manufacturing, Transportation and Warehousing, and Oil and Gas. He has held engineering positions in the fields of Safety, Asset Integrity, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing Engineering, as well as a management position in Inventory and Warehousing.
Mr. Baqdounes received his B.S. in Industrial Engineering with the highest honors from the University of Houston. He is a certified ASNT Level 2 in acoustic emission testing.
Mr. Baqdounes is the engineer in charge of technical communications, data analysis, and quality control of Acoustic Emissions testing and Laser Scanning.
He has experience in multiple industries such as Manufacturing, Transportation and Warehousing, and Oil and Gas. He has held engineering positions in the fields of Safety, Asset Integrity, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing Engineering, as well as a management position in Inventory and Warehousing.
Mr. Baqdounes received his B.S. in Industrial Engineering with the highest honors from the University of Houston. He is a certified ASNT Level 2 in acoustic emission testing.
Steven Garcia
Subject Matter Expert Steven Garcia was a co-founder of Ameriscan- the testing company that merged with HES. Having worked in field testing for over 20 years, Mr. Garcia assists in client interactions to define work scope, define field test setup, as well as perform data acquisition and interpretation/analysis. He has done extensive work in using Acoustic Emission testing to assist in Fitness for Service assessments, including:
He has assisted in fitness-for-service assessments of pressure vessels, piping, and other components related to refineries and chemical plants in several countries worldwide. Furthermore, Mr. Garcia has provided field engineering/testing support using high-speed data acquisition systems in remote locations for long-term monitoring of critical equipment. He belongs to the American Society of Nondestructive Testing. He holds a B.S. from Texas A&M University in Mechanical Engineering. |
Stanley Botten
Subject Matter Expert Mr. Botten is an independent Acoustic Emission (AE) consultant serving as corporate ASNT Level III. Well-known in the AE industry, he supports HES in interpreting and evaluating AE data; training, qualifying, and certifying personnel in Non-Destructive Testing (NDT); and verifying and approving AE test procedures and Written Practice. Mr. Botten has over 50 years of experience in NDT and over 45 years of experience in AE Testing. He received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Technology – Non-Destructive Testing in 1975 and has been an NDT Level III since 1977. Mr. Botten has held leadership positions in several basic NDT and AE Testing organizations worldwide. In addition to NDT consulting, he is an adjunct lecturer for NDT at San Jacinto College. Mr. Botten has published over 25 technical papers, mainly in the field of AE, and has developed a software to identify and grade the severity of defects in AE signature data. |
Dr. Ron Miller
Subject Matter Expert Dr. Miller is an independent Acoustic Emission (AE) consultant providing support to HES on an as-needed basis. Well-known in the Acoustic Emission industry, he supports HES in its development of a Written Practice, AE qualification and certification, and AE test procedures. In addition, Dr. Miller provides guidance and consulting in entering new AE markets and developing new AE applications. He brings over 45 years of AE experience dating back to graduate school at Purdue University, starting in 1975. He is best known for being the Technical Editor on the two AE Handbooks published by ASNT and leading the effort to rewrite ASME, Section V, Articles 11, 12, and 13. |
