ASME-IPTI Presents Nine Awards at 2011 Offshore Technology Conference

NEW YORK, May 26, 2011 – The Petroleum Division of the ASME International Petroleum Technology Institute (ASME-IPTI) has presented nine awards in recognition of technical contributions in the field of energy development, including two awards in the 28th Annual Woelfel Best Mechanical Engineering Achievement (BMEA) Awards competition.

At a ceremony held in conjunction with the recent 2011 Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas, ASME-IPTI named Aker Solutions (Houston, Texas and Fornebu, Norway) the winner of the BMEA award for a vertical connection system used on drilling platforms. Deep Down, Inc. (Channelview, Texas) placed first in the innovation category for an umbilical storage device, and three other energy firms – Baker Hughes (The Woodsland, Texas), Tomax (Stavanger, Norway) and Frank’s Casting Crew and Rental Tools (Lafayette, La.) – received BMEA awards of merit.

The BMEA Awards are presented to a company or organization for outstanding petroleum mechanical engineering achievement displayed at OTC.

Terry M. Lechinger, development director at Stress Engineering Services, Inc. (Houston, Texas), was presented with the ASME Dedicated Service Award. This award honors dedicated voluntary service to the Society marked by outstanding performance, effective leadership and commitment to ASME for ten years of more.

Ken Bayne, project director for Knarr Development (offshore Norway), was the recipient of the 2011 Geoca Mechanical Engineering Achievement Award for distinguished and meritorious achievement of service in the field of petroleum mechanical engineering.

Doreen Chin of Shell was named a fellow of ASME, the highest elected grade of membership in the Society.

The institute also bestowed the Lubinski Best Paper Award, which honors the best technical paper on petroleum mechanical engineering delivered at OTC. Five authors – Charles Deuel, Doreen Chin, Jonathan Harris, Jim Germanese and Noy Seunsom – shared the award for the paper, “Field Validation and Learning of the Parque das Conchas Subsea Processing System and Flow Assurance Design.”

About ASME-IPTI Based in Houston, ASME-IPTI is a leading professional and technical institute providing advanced educational, networking, and technology transfer opportunities to the offshore engineering and related industries.

About ASME ASME helps the global engineering community develop solutions to real world challenges. Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization that enables collaboration, knowledge sharing and skill development across all engineering disciplines, while promoting the vital role of the engineer in society. ASME codes and standards, publications, conferences, continuing education and professional development programs provide a foundation for advancing technical knowledge and a safer world.